Drake Powell, senior on Northwood’s boys basketball team, is the 2023 Chatham News and Record Boys Athlete of the Year.
Powell, then a junior, started 2023 by leading the Chargers to their third state championship appearance in four years. The Central 3A conference player of the year averaged team-highs of 18.6 points and seven rebounds per game in the 2022-23 season before signing to play college basketball at North Carolina in November.
Through December of the latest season, Powell averaged 20.2 points and eight rebounds per game while recording three double-doubles. As the No. 1 2024 prospect in North Carolina, according to 247Sports, Powell has been a crucial part of Northwood’s success with the team boasting an 8-2 record going into the new year.