At the beginning of each new year, Phenom Hoops works to assemble a series of articles centered around unsigned senior prospects. Last season, over a hundred players from North Carolina went on to play at the Division I, II, III, or NAIA levels, and that number looks likely to continue increasing with the current senior class. Typically, we take a closer look at guys who are overlooked and under-recruited, and today’s edition will highlight Jakel Powell of Raleigh Christian Academy.
We’ve seen Powell throughout his high school journey, previously stating, “The value of three-point shooting doesn’t need to be reintroduced upon our examination of each noteworthy threat from distance, but more people should be recognizing Powell and his overall progression throughout the recent months. Perimeter shooting has always been the basis of his foundation, but his improved confidence only makes him more dangerous. Powell is long, athletic, and possesses terrific size for a wing. He works well without the ball, both as a cutter and spot-up threat, and doesn’t need a ton of touches to make an impact. Powell has also shown development as a passer and defender, and should only continue to trend upward over the next calendar year.” Which was recently followed by, “It would be difficult to watch this contest and walk away feeling anything other than impressed with Powell. He’s a high-level shooting threat from beyond the arc, but can also attack off the bounce and finish or hit pull-ups at a quality percentage. Powell possesses great size and length, and is capable of excelling in situations as a spot-up threat. He moves well without the ball and makes a nice impact in transition.”
It’s easy to see the overall growth within Powell’s game over the years. Given his size and three-point shooting, he already had obvious appeal as a freshman. Over the following two seasons, he continued to stand out as a notable marksman within the state. However, Powell clearly took the next step as a leader and overall player during his time with the Eagles. He’s transitioned from a spot-up threat to a dynamic offensive weapon with the ability to burden a heavy scoring load, apply constant pressure from beyond the arc, and reliably create for himself and others off the bounce. This season, Powell is averaging 16.9 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 2.1 SPG. Though already quite useful, he still possesses a ton of upside. Powell has all the tools to contribute at a variety of different programs.