Another projected lottery pick has declared for the draft. Arkansas freshman guard Anthony Black announced his plans to forgo his remaining college eligibility and go pro during an appearance on ESPN’s NBA Today on Wednesday, as Jonathan Givony of ESPN.com relays.
Black averaged 12.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 2.1 steals per game with a shooting line of .453/.301/.705 in 36 appearances (34.9 MPG) as a freshman in 2022/23. He had 20 points and five steals in a loss to eventual champion UConn in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament last month.
The No. 8 prospect on ESPN’s big board, Black looks like a good bet to be a top-10 pick, but he said he’s not concerned about exactly where he gets selected.
“I deserve to be drafted high, but regardless I’m more ready to just work,” Black told ESPN. “There are a lot of dudes who get drafted high who don’t do well in the league. The work you put in and how you produce is far more important than where you get picked.”
Givony describes Black as one of the best defenders in the 2023 draft class due to his “intense” ball pressure, as well as his ability to fight over screens and to generate steals and deflections. Black’s outside shot is his biggest weakness, according to Givony, but he can play on and off the ball, is a fiery competitor, and has an excellent feel for the game.
In ESPN’s latest mock draft (Insider link), Givony and Jeremy Woo have Black going to the Wizards at No. 8, with Woo describing him as a “perfect fit for the modern league” and suggesting he’d slot nicely into Washington’s point guard spot.