Leaky Black provides a one-of-a-kind lift for UNC's backcourt
Posted April 1, 2022 7:43 p.m. EDT
New Orleans — Leaky Black is one-of-a-kind.
If only there were two of him.
"Leaky defensively, I like that it's a major luxury," said UNC coach Hubert Davis. "One thing I wish I could do is slice him in half and have him guard multiple players."
Most stars focus on scoring, but Black, a graduate of Cox Mill High in Concord, is a specialist in stops.
"[To] make a good defender, I feel like it's a will and a want to," Black said. "Putting it in your mind that you're not going to let your man score, take it personal upon yourself."
From Paolo Banchero to Dereon Seabron, Leaky has made life difficult for some of the best scorers in the ACC.
"Leaky does a phenomenal job with his length and athleticism," RJ Davis said. "He's done a great job this year. We feed off his energy and put him on the best player."
Limited by injuries the last two seasons, Black is finally getting his due.
"He's shot the ball so much better from the perimeter," Hubert Davis said. "He's just a great teammate and a great leader for our program."
The coaching staff agrees Black understands what he can do well.
As a leader and a defender, Black bleeds Carolina blue.
"It's all God's plan," Black said of his success. "Stay humble, keep working."
For UNC to win on Saturday, they'll need Black to duplicate his defensive effort against AJ Griffin in the second matchup against Duke, one that ended with a 94-81 Tar Heels victory. Griffin was limited to just five points.
