Powell was born in Toronto, Ontario in 1884 and was brought to Buffalo, New York as an infant.

As a teenager, Powell learned the game of basketball from the Buffalo Germans team.

Although he was five feet four inches tall, he jumped center for the Syracuse basketball team and was twice named captain.

[4] When the University of Buffalo suspended intercollegiate athletics in 1943 for the duration of World War II, Powell left and coached basketball at Canisius College for two seasons (1944–45 and 1945–46).

[5] His top achievement with the Canisius Golden Griffins was a victory over Nat Holman's CCNY team.