Author: Monojit Mandal
Arkansas freshman Anthony Black, a highly rated player who was picked in the top 10, has decided to forgo his remaining college eligibility and enter the NBA draft in 2023. During ESPN’s “NBA Today” on Wednesday.
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In his first season at Arkansas, Black, who is listed as the No. 8 prospect in ESPN’s NBA draft prognostication, had a big impact. After averaging almost 12.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.9 clear assists and 2.1 steals in each game, he was selected for the All-SEC second team and the freshman team.
Black was quite significant in Arkansas’ NCAA tournament run, helping the Razorbacks beat No. 1 seed Kansas and advance to the Sweet 16, where they were defeated by defending national champions UConn. In what turned out to be his last appearance in an Arkansas uniform, Black added 20 points, 5 steals and 4 rebounds.
At 6’10”, Black played more minutes in college basketball than any other rookie and established himself as one of the top defenders in his draft class. He showed instinctive ability to apply strong ball pressure, battle through screens, protect the basket and get into passing lanes.
Black’s versatility was on display for Arkansas as he played with or without the ball, showing off his inventiveness, pace, stamina and intelligence. As much as there are gaps in his aggressiveness, Black’s unselfishness made him a vital asset for an Arkansas team struggling to establish a clear offensive hierarchy.
While Black helped lead USA Basketball to the gold medal at the esteemed FIBA Americas U18 tournament last summer, his incredible efforts against Louisville and Creighton at the Maui Invitational in late November piqued the curiosity of several NBA scouts and executives.
According to Black, the specific selection position is not a major concern for him. However, due to his exceptional skill set and potential, he is widely predicted to be a first-round pick in the 2023 NBA draft.