The UCLA Career of Norman Powell: From Local San Diego Star to Pac-12 Standout

Norman Powell, born on May 25, 1993, in San Diego, California, is an American-Jamaican professional basketball player. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 215 pounds, Powell is known for his explosive scoring ability and defensive tenacity. Before his professional career, Powell made a name for himself at UCLA, showcasing his talent and work ethic. This article delves into Powell's career at UCLA, exploring his growth, achievements, and contributions to the Bruins.

Early Life and High School Career

Powell was introduced to basketball by his uncle, Raymond Edwards. Before joining UCLA, Powell honed his skills at Lincoln High School, where he helped rebuild their basketball program. He led the team to consecutive California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) San Diego Section 2A championships in 2009 and 2010. The team also captured the 2010 CIF Division II Boys' State Championship, with Powell scoring 24 points in a 74-59 win over Mountain View St. Francis. In his senior year, he was again first-team all-state and league MVP, and averaged 20.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.4 steals. Lincoln was 32-2 and won the league title with a 12-0 record. They were ranked No. 3 in California and No.

Arrival at UCLA

Considered a four-star recruit by ESPN.com, Powell was listed as the No. 15 shooting guard and the No. After a successful high school career, Powell committed to UCLA, where he played for four seasons (2011-2015). During his time with the Bruins, he developed into an all-conference player in the Pac-12.

Freshman and Sophomore Seasons (2011-2013)

As a freshman, Powell played in 33 games and posted averages of 4.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 17.8 minutes, starting in one game. During his sophomore season in 2012-13, Powell averaged 6.1 points in 22.1 minutes, making nine starts while playing all 35 games. He began the season as a starter but was later moved to the bench. His minutes declined from an average of 28.4 in the first seven games to 19 the following 26 games.

Junior Season (2013-2014)

In 2013-14, Powell started all 37 games and was third on the team in scoring (11.4). Under Alford, he became an offensive threat and a staunch defender. He was more aggressive taking the ball to the basket and dunked more than he could in Howland's system. The team's best on-ball defender, Powell was routinely assigned the opponent's best offensive player and earned honorable mention for the Pac-12 Conference All-Defensive Team. UCLA opened the 2014 NCAA tournament in San Diego, enabling him to play in his hometown for the first time since high school. UCLA advanced to the Sweet 16, and Powell averaged 13.0 points and 2.7 rebounds in three tournament contests.

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Senior Season (2014-2015)

As a senior, Powell averaged a team-high 16.4 points (sixth in the Pac-12), 4.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.8 steals and 34.6 minutes in 36 games (all starts). He scored in double figures 31 times, including a career-high 28 points vs. Washington State. Named first-team All-Pac 12 and was an Honorable Mention selection on the All-Pac 12 Defensive Team. Captured Pac-12 Player of the Week honors three times, becoming the fourth UCLA player to win the award three times in a single season (Kevin Love - 2008, Ed O’Bannon - 1995 and Don MacLean - 1992). Averaged a team-high 17.0 points in five Pac-12 and NCAA Tournament games.

Overall College Statistics and Achievements

Throughout his four seasons at UCLA (2011-2015), Powell played 141 career games (83 starts). He averaged 9.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 25.2 minutes. He shot .461 (503-1,090) from the field and .314 (111-354) from three-point range. Powell finished his career ranked 28th on the school’s all-time scoring list with 1,376 points. He played in three consecutive NCAA Tournaments (2013-15) and made back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances (2014-15).

NBA Draft and Early Career

On June 25, 2015, Powell was selected with the 46th overall pick in the NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. His draft rights were later traded to the Toronto Raptors.

Professional Career Highlights

Norman Powell's career highlights include winning an NBA Championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019. Throughout his career, Powell has consistently improved his scoring averages, with his best season in 2020-2021, where he averaged 18.6 points per game. Powell played sparingly for the Raptors over the first half of the 2016-17 season. With DeMarre Carroll sitting out back-to-back games early on in the season, Powell received a number of starting assignments. In 2019-20, Fred VanVleet became the starting shooting guard after Toronto lost Danny Green in free agency. Powell began the season scoring in double digits only once in the first seven games. On November 29, 2019, he scored 19 of his then career-high 33 points in the third quarter in a 90-83 win over the Orlando Magic. As a starter in December in place of an injured VanVleet, he scored 20 or more points in three straight contests for the first time in his career. Later in the month, Powell injured his shoulder against the Detroit Pistons and was out for three weeks before returning in mid-January. On January 31, 2020, he fractured the fourth metacarpal of his left hand against the Pistons. The following season in 2020-21, Powell moved into the starting lineup in mid-January 2021. On March 25, 2021, the Portland Trail Blazers acquired Powell from Toronto in exchange for Gary Trent Jr. and Rodney Hood. On February 4, 2022, Powell was traded, alongside Robert Covington, to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow, Keon Johnson, and a 2025 second-round pick. The trade reunited Powell with former Toronto teammates Kawhi Leonard and Serge Ibaka, the latter of which would be traded to the Milwaukee Bucks on February 10.

Personal Life

Powell has two older sisters, Joniece and Margaret. Fulfilled his graduation requirements in less than four years (March 2015), earning a degree in history. He is the son of Norman Sr.

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