By R.L. Bynum

Carolina five-star recruits Ian Jackson and Drake Powell were named Tuesday to the McDonald’s All-American Game on April 2 at Houston’s Toyota Center, giving the Tar Heels 82 McDonald’s All-Americans since 1977.

Jackson (top photo), who played on the United States’ U19 basketball team last summer, is a 6–4, 180-pound forward playing with Overtime Elite. Powell is a 6–5, 185-pound guard for Northwood High School in Pittsboro. Both are also ranked among 247Sports’ top 10 players in the Class of 2024 and made the Midseason Naismith Trophy watchlist.

They will be the first UNC recruits to play in the game since Cole Anthony (the MVP) and Armando Bacot in 2019. In 2018, Nassir Little and Coby White played, with Little earning MVP honors. Day’Ron Sharpe, RJ Davis, Walker Kessler and Caleb Love (in addition to Dawson Garcia, who later transferred to UNC) were picked in 2020, but the game was canceled.

Powell has Northwood off to a 13–3 start and in first place in the Mid-Carolina Conference.

In the Chargers’ 73–24 blowout Friday of North Moore, Powell recorded his first triple-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, making five of eight shots.

Jackson is averaging 24.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.6 steals this season. On Saturday, he had 28 points, nine rebounds, and three steals in his Jelly Fam team’s 76–70 victory over City Reapers.

The third UNC recruit in the class is 6–8, 225-pound center James Brown.

Duke recruits named to the game are Charlotte forward Isaiah Evans and Florida forward Cooper Flagg.

---

McDonald’s All-American Game rosters

---

UNC McDonald’s All-Americans

Ian Jackson 2024
Drake Powell 2024
RJ Davis 2020
Dawson Garcia 2020
Walker Kessler 2020
Caleb Love 2020
Day’Ron Sharpe 2020
Cole Anthony 2019
Armando Bacot 2019
Nassir Little 2018
Coby White 2018
Tony Bradley 2016
Joel Berry II 2014
Justin Jackson 2014
Theo Pinson 2014
Isaiah Hicks 2013
Kennedy Meeks 2013
Marcus Paige 2012
P.J. Hairston 2011
James Michael McAdoo 2011
Harrison Barnes 2010
Reggie Bullock 2010
Kendall Marshall 2010
John Henson 2009
Dexter Strickland 2009
David Wear 2009
Travis Wear 2009
Ed Davis 2008
Larry Drew II 2008
Tyler Zeller 2008
Wayne Ellington 2006
Ty Lawson 2006
Brandan Wright 2006
Bobby Frasor 2005
Danny Green 2005
Tyler Hansbrough 2005
Marvin Williams 2004
Raymond Feton 2002
Sean May 2002
Rashad McCants 2002
Jawad Williams 2001
Neil Fingleton 2000
Joseph Forte 1999
Ronald Curry 1998
Jason Capel 1998
Kris Lang 1998
Brendan Haywood 1997
Ed Cota 1996
Vasco Evtimov 1996
Vince Carter 1995
Antawn Jamison 1995
Jeff McInnis 1993
Jerry Stackhouse 1993
Rasheed Wallace 1993
Serge Zwikker 1992
Donald Williams 1991
Eric Montross 1990
Derrick Phelps 1990
Brian Reese 1990
Clifford Rozier 1990
George Lynch 1989
Matt Wenstrom 1989
King Rice 1987
Pete Chilcutt 1986
J.R. Reid 1986
Scott Williams 1986
Steve Bucknall 1985
Jeff Lebo 1985
Kevin Madden 1985
Dave Popson 1983
Kenny Smith 1983
Joe Wolf 1983
Brad Daugherty 1982
Curtis Hunter 1982
Michael Jordan 1981
Buzz Peterson 1981
Matt Doherty 1980
Sam Perkins 1980
Jim Braddock 1979
James Worthy 1979
Pete Budko 1977
Al Wood 1977

Photo courtesy of USA Basketball