Last Updated on October 12, 2026 by Candida Lucia

Drake Powell is an American professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets who comes from a family with strong connections to college athletics. Born on September 8, 2005, in Durham, North Carolina, the talented shooting guard grew up in Pittsboro, surrounded by relatives who excelled in basketball, baseball and volleyball. His parents are Dedric Powell and Cherice Powell, while his two older siblings are Deuce Powell and Cera Powell.
After becoming one of the country’s most highly regarded high school basketball prospects, Powell played one season at the University of North Carolina before entering the 2025 NBA Draft. He was selected with the 22nd overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks, who traded his draft rights to the Brooklyn Nets. Beyond his professional achievements, fans have become interested in his personal life, particularly his girlfriend, children, parents and siblings. Here is what is publicly known about Drake Powell’s family and relationships.
Drake Powell’s Girlfriend: Is He Dating Anyone?
Drake Powell has not publicly confirmed having a girlfriend. Although he has attracted considerable attention through his basketball career at North Carolina and subsequent move to the NBA, he has generally kept his romantic relationships away from public discussion.
His official basketball biographies, interviews and media appearances have primarily focused on his athletic development, family background and ambitions as a professional player.
There is currently no reliable public information identifying a girlfriend or establishing that Powell is involved in a romantic relationship.
Although the Brooklyn Nets guard maintains a public presence through basketball-related activities, he has not provided verified details about his dating life.
Consequently, his relationship status remains unconfirmed. Without a statement from Powell or reliable reporting, it would be inaccurate to describe him as either single or involved in a relationship.
Is Drake Powell Married?
There is no publicly verified information indicating that Drake Powell is married or engaged.
At 21 years old, Powell is in the early stages of his NBA career after spending the 2024–25 college basketball season with the North Carolina Tar Heels.
He has not publicly announced a wedding or identified a wife in his official player profiles.
Does Drake Powell Have Children?
There is no publicly verified information indicating that Drake Powell has children.
The Brooklyn Nets guard has not announced becoming a father, and his official NBA and college basketball biographies do not mention any sons or daughters.
Although Powell comes from a close-knit family and has spoken about the importance of his parents and older siblings, those discussions concern his upbringing rather than children of his own.
He has also not publicly disclosed plans concerning marriage or fatherhood.
Drake Powell’s Parents
Drake Powell’s parents are Dedric Powell and Cherice Powell. Their identities are confirmed in his official University of North Carolina basketball biography and university recruiting announcements.
Both parents attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where Dedric played college baseball and Cherice continued her education after becoming a standout high school basketball player.
The couple raised their three children in Pittsboro, North Carolina, where athletics and education became important parts of family life.
Drake Powell’s Father: Dedric Powell
Dedric Powell is Drake Powell’s father and a former college baseball player at the University of North Carolina.
Originally from Hallsboro, North Carolina, Dedric participated in basketball and baseball during high school before pursuing baseball at UNC.
According to a 2024 feature published by WRAL, he played baseball for the Tar Heels in 1989.
His experience as a college athlete helped him understand the discipline and commitment required to succeed in competitive sports.
Although Drake eventually chose basketball, he also participated in baseball during high school, following his father’s athletic interests.
Dedric supported his son’s development throughout his childhood and encouraged him to become a responsible person both on and off the basketball court.
In a November 2023 interview with WRAL, Dedric praised his son’s humility and willingness to contribute to his team rather than focusing exclusively on individual achievements.
He explained that Drake had developed a reputation for accepting coaching instructions and treating other people respectfully.
His comments reflected the values that he and Cherice emphasized while raising their children.
Dedric also took considerable pride in Drake’s decision to attend North Carolina, the university where both parents had studied.
When Drake committed to the Tar Heels, it represented an important moment for a family with longstanding connections to the university.
Dedric continued supporting his son when he entered professional basketball, celebrating his selection in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Drake Powell’s Mother: Cherice Powell
Cherice Powell is Drake Powell’s mother and a former standout high school basketball player from Charlotte, North Carolina.
Before attending the University of North Carolina, Cherice earned all-state recognition for her performances in high school basketball.
Although she did not develop a widely documented professional playing career, her competitive basketball experience contributed to the family’s strong athletic background.
Cherice also played an important role in teaching her children discipline, humility and the importance of helping their community.
In a November 2023 WRAL interview, she emphasized that she wanted her children to become responsible citizens and contribute positively to the lives of others.
Her approach to parenting helped shape Drake’s reputation as a respectful and team-oriented basketball player.
During his high school career, he became known for interacting with young fans, signing autographs and making time for people who supported his team.
His coaches publicly connected those personal qualities to the values taught by his family.
Cherice was also closely involved in Drake’s college recruitment.
Despite both parents having attended North Carolina, they encouraged their son to evaluate different universities and choose the program where he felt most comfortable.
In October 2024, a feature published by UNC Athletics highlighted the family’s approach to his college decision, explaining that his parents wanted him to make an independent choice.
Drake ultimately selected North Carolina, fulfilling his childhood ambition of playing for the Tar Heels.
His mother has continued supporting him through important moments in his basketball career, including his transition to the NBA.
Drake Powell’s Siblings: Does He Have Brothers and Sisters?
Drake Powell has two older siblings: a brother named Deuce Powell and a sister named Cera Powell.
He is the youngest of the three children born to Dedric and Cherice Powell.
Both of his older siblings were successful high school athletes who continued participating in competitive sports after graduation.
Their achievements helped create an athletic environment in which Drake developed his basketball abilities.
Cera Powell: Drake Powell’s Older Sister
Cera Latrice Powell is Drake Powell’s older sister and a former collegiate volleyball player who competed at Virginia Tech and the University of Connecticut.
Born on October 22, 2000, Cera grew up in Pittsboro, North Carolina, and attended Northwood High School, where she became a standout volleyball player.
She was a four-year varsity letterwinner and earned multiple all-conference honors during her high school career.
Cera was also named Big 8 Conference Player of the Year and helped Northwood reach the third round of the 2018 North Carolina state volleyball tournament.
Her athletic performances earned her an opportunity to play NCAA Division I volleyball at Virginia Tech.
She joined the Hokies in 2019 and competed as an outside hitter.
During her four seasons at Virginia Tech, Cera appeared in 101 matches, recording 790 kills and 364 digs.
She also received several academic and athletic honors, including selection to the 2022 ACC All-Academic Team.
After completing her time at Virginia Tech, Cera transferred to the University of Connecticut for the 2023 volleyball season.
At UConn, she continued competing at the Division I level while pursuing graduate studies.
Her official Connecticut biography identifies her parents as Cherice and Dedric Powell and names Deuce and Drake as her brothers.
Cera’s achievements demonstrate that Drake is not the only member of the family to compete successfully in major college athletics.
Deuce Powell: Drake Powell’s Older Brother
Deuce Powell is Drake Powell’s older brother and a former college basketball player.
Like Drake and Cera, Deuce attended Northwood High School in Pittsboro, where he became a successful multisport athlete.
He participated in football, basketball and baseball, demonstrating the athletic versatility that characterized the Powell family.
After graduating from high school, Deuce attended Louisburg College in North Carolina, where he played basketball.
He later transferred to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, commonly known as North Carolina A&T, to pursue a business degree.
His basketball experience helped establish a family tradition that Drake continued when he developed into a nationally recognized high school prospect.
In a February 2024 WRAL feature, Drake acknowledged the influence of his older siblings and explained that their achievements had provided an example for him to follow.
Northwood basketball coach Matt Brown also praised Deuce’s abilities, describing him as a talented player whose size may have limited his opportunities at the highest collegiate levels.
Although Deuce did not follow his younger brother into the NBA, his sporting achievements and college basketball experience contributed to Drake’s early development.
Is Drake Powell Related to Hubert Davis?
Yes. Drake Powell is related to former NBA player and University of North Carolina basketball coach Hubert Davis.
The family connection is confirmed in Powell’s official UNC basketball biography.
According to reporting about his recruitment, Drake’s grandmother is an aunt of Hubert Davis, making the two members of the same extended family.
The relationship provided another connection between Powell and the university he had supported since childhood.
Hubert Davis played college basketball at North Carolina before spending 12 seasons in the NBA.
He later joined the Tar Heels’ coaching staff and became the program’s head coach in 2021.
When Drake committed to UNC in September 2022, Davis was leading the basketball program.
Despite their family relationship, Drake has explained that his decision to attend the university involved evaluating the team’s basketball environment and his relationships with the coaching staff.
In an October 2024 UNC Athletics feature, he described how Davis showed interest in his personal life, education and well-being rather than discussing basketball alone.
Those conversations helped strengthen his confidence in the program.
Is Drake Powell Related to NBA Legend Walter Davis?
Drake Powell also has a family connection to the late NBA star Walter Davis.
His sister Cera’s official Virginia Tech biography identifies Walter Davis as her great-uncle, establishing the same extended family relationship for Drake.
Walter Davis played college basketball at the University of North Carolina before being selected with the fifth overall pick in the 1977 NBA Draft.
He went on to enjoy a distinguished professional career, primarily with the Phoenix Suns.
During his NBA career, Walter earned six All-Star selections and became one of the most accomplished scorers in Suns history.
He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024.
This relationship adds another generation of basketball achievement to the Powell family’s sporting history.
How Drake Powell’s Family Influenced His Basketball Career
Drake Powell’s basketball journey began in Pittsboro, North Carolina, where his parents and older siblings encouraged him to participate in sports.
Because Dedric had played college baseball, Cherice was an accomplished basketball player, Cera competed in volleyball and Deuce played several sports, Drake grew up surrounded by athletic role models.
He attended Northwood High School, where he developed into one of the most highly regarded basketball prospects in the United States.
During his junior season in 2022–23, Powell averaged 18.6 points, seven rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.
He continued improving as a senior, averaging 17.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.
His performances earned him invitations to the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game, Jordan Brand Classic and Iverson Classic.
Powell also played AAU basketball for Chris Paul’s Team CP3 program, gaining experience competing against highly regarded national prospects.
In September 2022, he committed to the University of North Carolina.
His decision represented an important moment for the family because both parents had previously attended the university.
During the 2024–25 season, Powell appeared in all 37 games for the Tar Heels, making 24 starts.
He averaged 7.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game while shooting approximately 48 percent from the field.
Although his scoring statistics were modest compared with some leading freshmen, he established himself as one of the team’s most effective perimeter defenders.
North Carolina recognized him as its top defensive player, making him only the fourth freshman to receive that honor.
Following the season, Powell declared for the 2025 NBA Draft.
On June 25, 2025, the Atlanta Hawks selected him with the 22nd overall pick before agreeing to trade his draft rights to the Brooklyn Nets.
The selection fulfilled a dream that he and his family had pursued for years.
He subsequently joined Brooklyn, beginning his professional career while continuing to develop his offensive skills and defensive versatility.
Drake Powell’s Family Celebrates His Basketball Achievements
Drake Powell’s athletic achievements have received considerable recognition in Pittsboro and the surrounding North Carolina community.
In February 2026, Northwood High School retired his basketball jersey in recognition of his accomplishments.
The ceremony brought Powell back to the school where he had developed into a nationally recognized prospect.
Both parents participated in the celebration and expressed pride in their son’s achievements.
According to WRAL, Dedric described the experience of seeing his son’s jersey permanently displayed at Northwood as particularly meaningful.
Cherice also expressed appreciation for the school, which had supported all three of her children during their athletic development.
The recognition demonstrated that Powell’s basketball success had become a source of pride not only for his immediate family but also for the community where he grew up.
Frequently Asked Questions About Drake Powell’s Family
Who are Drake Powell’s parents?
Drake Powell’s parents are Dedric Powell and Cherice Powell. His father played college baseball at the University of North Carolina, while his mother was an all-state high school basketball player who also attended UNC.
Who is Drake Powell’s girlfriend?
Drake Powell has not publicly confirmed having a girlfriend. His current relationship status remains unverified.
Does Drake Powell have children?
There are no publicly confirmed reports indicating that Drake Powell has children.
Is Drake Powell married?
There is no reliable public information confirming that Drake Powell is married or engaged.
How many siblings does Drake Powell have?
Drake Powell has two older siblings: a brother named Deuce Powell and a sister named Cera Powell.
Who is Drake Powell’s brother?
Drake Powell’s older brother is Deuce Powell, a former Northwood High School multisport athlete who played college basketball at Louisburg College and later attended North Carolina A&T.
Who is Drake Powell’s sister?
His older sister is Cera Powell, a former Division I volleyball player who competed at Virginia Tech and the University of Connecticut.
Is Drake Powell related to Hubert Davis?
Yes. Drake Powell is a relative of former North Carolina basketball coach Hubert Davis. Their family connection is documented in Powell’s official UNC biography.
Is Drake Powell related to Walter Davis?
Yes. Former NBA All-Star Walter Davis was a great-uncle in the Powell family, according to Cera Powell’s official Virginia Tech athletics biography.
Where is Drake Powell from?
Drake Powell was born in Durham, North Carolina, on September 8, 2005, and grew up in Pittsboro, where he attended Northwood High School.
What NBA team does Drake Powell play for?
Drake Powell plays for the Brooklyn Nets. He was selected 22nd overall in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks before his draft rights were traded to Brooklyn.

Candida Lucia is a sports journalist and NBA writer specializing in tactical game analysis, player development, and league coverage. With an eye for on-court execution and team dynamics, she delivers detailed breakdowns of strategy, roster updates, and key performance trends. Passionate about bringing readers closer to the game, Candida offers engaging insights on every aspect of the NBA season, from regular-season battles to the Finals.
