2023 NBA Draft: Arkansas PG Anthony Black turns professional after standout freshman season

Arkansas guard Anthony Black is declaring for the 2023 NBA Draft after rising as one of many nation’s prime freshmen throughout the 2022-23 season, he introduced on ESPN Wednesday. Black earned SEC-All Freshman honors whereas serving to information the Razorbacks to the Candy 16 as a part of a loaded recruiting class that ranked No. 2 nationally.

At 6-foot-7, Richardson shined on each ends of the ground, main Arkansas in assists and steals whereas rating second in factors per sport at 12.8. Although his 30.1% 3-point capturing mark might want to enhance on the subsequent stage, Black demonstrated wonderful instincts and intangibles for a younger participant thrust right into a key function for a high-level program.

Black made his expertise obvious early with back-to-back 26-point video games throughout the Maui Invitational in November in opposition to Louisville and Creighton. Whereas his scoring ebbed and flowed over the season, his playmaking potential and defensive productiveness helped maintain the Razorbacks throughout an up-and-down season.

He completed with a number of steals in 24 of 36 video games and recorded a number of assists on 30 events whereas ranking as Arkansas’ best all-around participant, based on evanmiya.com. Black additionally demonstrated a knack for attending to the free-throw line, which was a giant assist for an Arkansas crew that struggled offensively in half-court units.

Anthony Black’s NBA Draft projection

Black’s wonderful positional measurement makes him one of the crucial interesting level guard prospects within the draft class. At 6-foot-7, he can see over defenders and use his size to provoke the offense. He is additionally a dogged defender able to defending a number of positions. Although Black’s outdoors shot wants to enhance, he proved to be environment friendly in attacking the basket and confirmed the physique management essential to hit floaters and rating in transition.

Black ranks No. 10 within the 2023 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings from CBS Sports activities. He landed at No. 10 in a current mock draft from Kyle Boone and went No. 15 in Gary Parrish’s most up-to-date mock draft.

“Black is just a dependable jumper away from being a lottery choose,” Parrish wrote. “The 6-foot-7 guard is an attention-grabbing playmaker on the wing who has been the Razorbacks’ finest freshman within the absence of (Nick) Smith making any notable impression.”

Impression on Arkansas

Getting into the season, there might have been some hope that Arkansas would get a couple of season from Black, who ranked because the No. 15 general participant within the Class of 2022, based on 247Sports. However it turned apparent pretty early that he might be draft-ready this yr. With fellow five-star guard Nick Smith additionally in line to be chosen within the NBA Draft, Arkansas will once more be in search of manufacturing from newcomers.

High quality reinforcements are on the best way. The Razorbacks have switch commitments from former Washington level guard Keyon Menifield, former Houston guard Tramon Mark and ex-Temple wing Khalif Battle. Incoming freshmen Layden Blocker and Baye Fall are additionally top-25 prospects who ought to assist maintain the Razorbacks close to the highest of the SEC.