Jonathan Powell Brings the Spark as Tar Heels Shake Up Second-Half Routine
CHAPEL HILL - For the first time all season, North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis made a change to his second-half starting five. And while it may not have been a seismic shift on paper, it said plenty about the trust he’s starting to place in sophomore guard Jonathan Powell.
In UNC’s 77-58 win over East Tennessee State, it was Powell - not one of the usual five - who opened the second half on the floor. And the Tar Heels responded immediately, ripping off a 7-0 run out of the break. Powell didn’t score in the second half, but his fingerprints were all over the energy shift that helped UNC pull away.
"The last three minutes and some seconds of the first half - I just felt like the energy was good there and I just wanted to start the second half that way," Davis said after the win. “Nothing more than that.”
But there was more to it - at least in terms of impact. Powell had closed the first half with a confident jumper, his fifth point of the night on 2-of-3 shooting.
That momentum, paired with the edge he brings defensively, was enough for Davis to roll with him to start the second half. It wasn’t about stats.
It was about feel, energy, and tone - and Powell delivered.
He’s not a volume scorer, and he doesn’t need to be. What Powell brings is harder to quantify but easy to spot. He’s one of UNC’s most active perimeter defenders, constantly in motion, constantly communicating, and constantly looking to inject life into the lineup.
“JP gives us great life,” forward Caleb Wilson said. “He’s a great player, and I feel like every game he shows more and more what he can do. I’m really proud of him - it’s a great lift.”
That “lift” is becoming Powell’s calling card.
“I love this sport,” Powell said. “So every time I come on the court, I want to play with the edge, play with the energy. I think that’s what keeps that fire under me.”
That fire has been burning since his days at West Virginia, and now it’s fueling his emergence in Chapel Hill. Powell’s mindset is clear: when the team needs a jolt, he wants to be the one to provide it.
“If the energy is down, just being that spark plug we might need to get us going and do what I need to do to help my team win,” he said.
That mentality is translating into more minutes and more trust. Powell played 24 minutes Tuesday night - the same number he logged Saturday against USC Upstate, when he tied a career-high with 17 points. Those are his two highest-minute games of the season, and they’re coming at a time when UNC is still shaping its identity heading into the heart of the schedule.
Davis has taken notice.
“He’s a really physical defender, very competitive, and just has a passion and desire to be a part of his team and this program,” the head coach said.
Against ETSU, Powell finished with five points on 2-of-8 shooting. He didn’t score after halftime, but that didn’t matter. His presence helped set the tone, and his defensive activity helped UNC clamp down when it mattered.
As the Tar Heels continue to search for consistency - especially in terms of energy and intensity - Powell is making a strong case to be part of the solution. And if Tuesday night is any indication, Davis may be more willing to break from routine to ride the hot hand - or in Powell’s case, the hot motor.
Don’t be surprised if this isn’t the last time we see Powell opening a half. His role is growing, and his impact is becoming harder to ignore.