HUGE BOOST: North Carolina has landed huge commitment from transfer portal this offseason over other finalists Ole Miss and Ohio State
Jonathan Powell ranked second among Big 12 freshmen in three-pointers made last season.
North Carolina secured its first transfer portal commitment of the offseason on Tuesday evening, as West Virginia wing Jonathan Powell announced his decision to join the Tar Heels.
The 6-foot-6, 191-pound freshman chose UNC over Ole Miss and Ohio State. His commitment came swiftly—after a Tuesday morning Zoom call with head coach Hubert Davis and general manager Jim Tanner, he committed later that day without visiting Chapel Hill.
During his freshman season at West Virginia, Powell started 23 games, averaging 8.3 points and 3.1 rebounds. He made 62 three-pointers—second-most among Big 12 freshmen—while shooting 35.2 percent from beyond the arc. He hit three or more threes in nine different games and finished with the fourth-lowest turnover rate in the conference. Powell has three years of college eligibility remaining.
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Former West Virginia head coach Darian DeVries praised Powell’s work ethic last season, emphasizing his confidence and dedication to improving his shooting. “He puts in the work every day,” DeVries said. “When you see him shoot in practice and the time he invests, he’s always going to have the green light. His confidence keeps growing, and he’s learning to slow himself down.”
Powell originally committed to Xavier in the 2024 class but later requested a release and signed with West Virginia in May 2023. As a high school senior at Centerville (Ohio), he was named the Division I Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Year after averaging 19.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.
UNC’s roster is undergoing significant changes following the departures of starting guards Elliot Cadeau and R.J. Davis. With the futures of returning wings Drake Powell, Ian Jackson, and Cade Tyson still uncertain, adding perimeter players has become a priority.
Discussing the transfer portal last week, Hubert Davis stressed that UNC evaluates more than just talent when recruiting. “Personality and character matter,” Davis said. “We want players who are here for the team, not just themselves. And they have to be able to handle the spotlight—playing at Carolina is different. Everything you do will be critiqued, and not everyone can handle that pressure.”