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Pros and cons of Charlotte Hornets giving Leaky Black of UNC basketball a two-way NBA deal

rodd baxley, the fayetteville observer
·2 min read
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UNC basketball’s Leaky Black signed a two-way deal with the Charlotte Hornets after the 2023 NBA Draft, according to multiple reports.

Inside Carolina was the first to report news that Black, one of the top defenders in college basketball last season, would get a chance to compete in the summer league with his hometown team. The Concord native averaged a career-best 7.6 points and 6.5 rebounds in his final season for the Tar Heels. He made nearly 33% of his 3-point attempts in his final two years.

UNC hasn’t had a player drafted since Day’Ron Sharpe in 2021. Here’s what Black can bring to an NBA roster.

The positives

Known as “Lockdown Leaky” during his time in Chapel Hill, Black was an All-ACC defender who often was charged with guarding an opponent’s best player. The strongest point on his resume is arguably his performance against Alabama’s Brandon Miller, the second overall pick in Thursday's draft, last season. Miller was 4-for-21 against the Tar Heels and Black was the primary defender. Now, the two could be teammates.

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The concerns

The 6-foot-8, 200-pound Black will enter the professional ranks as a 23-year-old rookie. He built a reputation as a versatile defender and improved his shooting in his final two collegiate seasons, but was never a consistent threat offensively.

Final thoughts

The energetic, rangy wing could carve out a role as a defensive specialist. Black has experience, having played in a UNC-record 155 games with 130 starts. If he can continue to improve his outside shooting, Black could become a 3-and-D threat.

Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Charlotte Hornets sign UNC basketball’s Leaky Black after NBA Draft