North Carolina’s longest-ever drought without a McDonald’s selection ends after four years.
For the first time since 2020, the North Carolina men’s basketball team will participate in high school basketball’s most prestigious event, the McDonald’s All-American game.
Ian Jackson and Drake Powell, both Class of 2024 UNC signees, were selected participants on Tuesday afternoon, breaking Carolina’s longest streak without a selection since the game’s beginning over 40 years ago. The McDonald’s All-American (MCDAA) games will be held at the Toyota Centre in Houston on Tuesday, April 2, with the girls’ game starting at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN2 and the boys’ game starting at 9 p.m. on ESPN.Jackson and Powell are the first signees under third-year coach Hubert Davis to be named to the game.
That’s a huge honor,” Powell told Inside Carolina. “You’ve got a great list of names that played in that event. To share that experience with my family members, especially my parents… once in a lifetime feeling. I don’t know the past Tar Heels that have been in that game, but I did watch it last year. It’s very high-level… there’s talent all around.”
Powell, the No. 9-ranked player in the senior class by 247Sports, is a 6-6 guard/forward from Pittsboro (N.C.) Northwood. After shunning powerhouse prep schools seeking to add him to their roster in his final season, Powell has been dominant for Northwood. In 16 games this season, he’s scored 20 or more points seven times despite often sitting out much of second halves due to large leads. Last week, he tallied a triple double (10 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists) in Northwood’s win over Robbins (N.C.) North Moore.
“Drake is a rare combination of humbleness, competitiveness and teamwork,” UNC head coach Hubert Davis said in November. “He has a team-first mentality and wants to learn and improve every day. He also has elite length and athleticism at the wing, and he can dominate on both ends of the floor. Drake can score and defend at the highest level. He committed early to Carolina, and he is exactly what we are looking for—a great person and a talented athlete from an amazing family.”
Jackson, the No. 8-ranked player in the senior class, is a 6-5 guard from Bronx (N.Y.) Our Savior Lutheran. OSL plays a national schedule and is also a member of Overtime Elite, a national high school league based in Atlanta. Jackson, known for his ability to score at all three levels, has put up 25 or more points in nine of OSL’s 14 games. He had a season high 33 points on Dec. 17 against the Diamond Doves in OTE.
It’s a dream come true for him,” Jackson’s trainer and AAU coach Daman Brown said. “He’s had this goal since sixth grade.”
Hubert Davis noted: “Ian is exactly why I love New York guards. He’s tough, competitive and he plays with a chip on his shoulder. Ian can also straight up score—with the ball, off the ball, in transition. He can get buckets but also loves to pass and is a great defensive player. I have never seen a kid as competitive as Ian who is also as humble and kind off the court. He has a smile and a personality that will light up the Smith Center.”
From 1977 to 1993, the Tar Heels men’s program had at least one player selected each year. That streak mostly continued for the next 20 years, with UNC having at least one player named in each year except 1994, 2003, 2007, 2015, and 2017. However, since the quartet of Walker Kessler, R.J. Davis, Caleb Love, and Day’Ron Sharpe was picked in 2020 (the game itself was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic), UNC went three-straight classes without a MCDAA.
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