On Saturday night at Grimsley High School, Powell participated in the Josh Level Classic — an event showcasing some of the top basketball prospects in North Carolina. He logged 12 points, six rebounds and three assists.

“The showcases have been great,” Powell told Inside Carolina following the Josh Level Classic. “Luckily I came out on top in all of them, so (I’m) 4-0. It’s just a good experience playing against top level talent and just having fun and putting on a show for the fans. I think that’s the biggest thing.”

In 247Sports final rankings for the incoming freshman class, which were released on Wednesday, Powell was tabbed the No. 11 prospect nationally.

He joins fellow five-star Ian Jackson (No. 8-ranked prospect) and big man James Brown (No. 110-ranked prospect) to round out UNC’s incoming class of freshmen.

Powell told Inside Carolina that he will first report to UNC on June 6. He added that he plans to move in the day prior.

Powell will join a loaded guard and wing room at Carolina. The Tar Heels return starters Elliot Cadeau and All-American RJ Davis in the backcourt, along with sixth man defensive stopper Seth Trimble.

UNC also added sharpshooting wing Cade Tyson in the transfer portal. Of all Carolina’s returnees and new additions, though, Davis’ decision in particular stood out to Powell.

“I’m happy RJ is coming back,” Powell said. “I’ve definitely cracked some jokes about him being as old as he is. But I just want to learn as much as I can from him.”

Known as one of the top lockdown defenders in the high school ranks, Powell has continued to tap into his offensive game. He averaged over 17 points per game this past season as a senior at Northwood High School, while shooting 62 percent from the field and 42 percent from 3-point range.

Powell said his expectation for his freshman season at UNC is “to play the ‘3’ predominantly,” though he added he’s capable of “playing the ‘1’ through ‘4.’ ” Powell is taking a calculated approach to his workouts this summer, with a pointed plan to help position himself to be an immediate contributor for the Tar Heels.

“Definitely get in the weight room,” Powell said of his summer priorities. “Developing my all-around game to where I can impact everything, every aspect of the game. And getting my cardio up as well.

“Nothing’s promised going into Carolina, especially as a freshman. But I just want to work hard and do what my coaches ask me even more going forward.”

UNC Clinches Share of Division Title With Defeat of Louisville

The Tar Heels top the Cardinals 6-4 on Saturday afternoon, and set up a chance to sweep the three-game series.

North Carolina’s victory machine at home cranked out another winning result Saturday afternoon.

The Tar Heels defeated Louisville 6-4 behind shutdown relief pitching in the second game of their ACC baseball series at Boshamer Stadium, and clinched at least a share of the league’s Coastal Division title, with four conference games still remaining in the regular season.

Anthony Donofrio supplied three hits and drove in two runs. Casey Cook homered early, and Vance Honeycutt‘s sacrifice fly in the seventh inning helped provide enough insurance room, as UNC (38-11 overall, 19-7 ACC) improved to 31-2 at home this season.

The Tar Heels have won 35 of their last 37 games here, and can complete a three-game sweep of the visiting Cardinals in the series finale Sunday.

Matt Poston, Ben Peterson and Dalton Pence came out of the Carolina bullpen and held Louisville (29-21, 13-13) scoreless across the final five innings, in relief of starter Shea Sprague.

The lefty Pence took care of the last two innings and earned his sixth save of the season. He worked out of a jam in the top of the ninth inning to close the door.

The Cardinals were threatening with runners aboard on first base and third base, before Pence struck out Alex Alicea and got JT Benson to fly out to end the game.

“We feel like with Poston and Pence, those have been our horses all year,” UNC coach Scott Forbes said. “But now we’ve started using Poston in a little bit different role, because he recovers a little bit better, and we want to try to have Dalton out there if at all possible at the end of the game.”

Poston (3-2) entered in the top of the fifth inning and worked 2 2/3 innings to pick up the pitching victory.

One day after UNC opened this final home series of the regular season by hammering seven homers — belting big blast after big blast Friday night, while Honeycutt became the school’s all-time home run king — the Tar Heels displayed another strength in turning to their bullpen to piece together Saturday’s victory.

“We’ve got guys who can bang it,” Donofrio said. “We’ve got guys who can get on, steal bags. Just the overall talent level of these players, they can go out and win a game for you, just in their own self. And we play so good together as a team, that it just enhances our ability on the field.

“Every single guy is picking each other up. We don’t have any bad things in the locker room going on. We’re a very tightly knit team. So I feel like that really helps, because we just go out and play when it comes down to it.”

Colby Wilkerson doubled and finished with three hits for Carolina, which leads second-place Virginia (15-11 ACC) by four games atop the Coastal Division. Parks Harber and Honeycutt contributed two hits apiece. The Tar Heels play at Duke next week to conclude the regular season.

UNC moved to 13-1 at home in ACC league play on Saturday, and can make Louisville the latest conference opponent to be swept here at Boshamer Stadium this season, joining Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech and Notre Dame on that list of victims.

“I do think this is the type of team that can beat anybody, and can win any game,” Forbes said. “And that’s a good feeling going into it. But yeah, you want to get that sweep.

I don’t look at how we’ve done at home and all that stuff. I just want to win tomorrow (Sunday) and have a special day for these seniors and these grads.”

UNC went ahead 5-4 in the bottom of the fourth inning on Saturday, after Wilkerson’s leadoff double helped the Tar Heels load the bases with no outs. Harber drew a walk to bring in a run, and then Donofrio’s groundout scored another.

Louisville catcher Luke Napleton lifted a three-run homer off the lefty Sprague to jump the Cardinals ahead 4-3 in the top of the fourth.

A leadoff walk to Zion Rose and a bunt single by Isaac Humphrey that tiptoed the third-base line became costly there for the Tar Heels.

In the third inning, Cook golfed a 414-foot home run high down the right-field line. That towering blast sailed out just inside fair territory, sending leaves falling from the trees beyond the wall, and Carolina led 2-1.

Early college football odds released for rivalry games at UNC, Clemson, NC State and Duke

The Carolinas will be a war zone next season.

The 2024 college football season promises another slate of intense rivalry games in the Carolinas.

FanDuel dropped early betting odds for huge conference matchups between North Carolina, Clemson, NC State, Duke and Wake Forest, and oddsmakers expect a tight race for the state crown in 2024.

FanDuel released odds for four games: NC State at Clemson (Sept. 21), North Carolina at Duke (Sept. 28), NC State at North Carolina (Nov. 30) and Duke at Wake Forest (Nov. 30).

The spread at fewer than four points in three of these games, while only one is expected to be decided by a touchdown or more.

Clemson boasts an all-time winning record against the Tar Heels, Wolfpack and Demon Deacons.

UNC has a winning record over all three of its in-state rivals, while Duke has bettered NC State and Wake Forest throughout its gridiron history.

The Wolfpack trail the Tar Heels (68-39-6) and Blue Devils (42-37-5) in the all-time series but can make up ground this fall.