A second starter for the UNC men’s basketball team announced he would be returning to school next season. Senior wing Leaky Black, who has an extra year of eligibility due to the NCAA’s COVID rules for student-athletes, revealed on Twitter he would be using that year in Chapel Hill.

Black announced the decision in the form of a letter to his freshman-year self.

“You have no idea what you’re getting into,” the letter read. “These next four years, you will struggle. You will question yourself and you will fail. There will be times you aren’t sure if basketball is worth it. It will be hard. But you’ll be stronger because of it.

“You will make friends and teammates who are more like family,” Black went on. “You will meet coaches who change your life. You will become part of the Carolina family. Kids will wear T-shirts with your name on them and ask you for autographs. Being a Tar Heel will provide you with some of the best moments of your life… it will be an amazing four years, and here’s the even better part: you’ll get to do it for a fifth year.”

Black has started at UNC for three seasons after struggling with injuries during his freshman year in 2018-19. Last season, he averaged 4.9 points per game while playing in 38 of 39 games. He was UNC’s top defender, often taking on the most difficult guarding assignments for the opposing team, including Duke’s A.J. Griffin and Kansas’ Ochai Agbaji.

“I can’t think of anybody better to coach and be around every day than Leaky,” said head coach Hubert Davis in a statement. “His passion for this program, this university, team and basketball is what drives him and what has driven him to come back for another season. He’s the best defensive player in the country.”

Black joins forward Armando Bacot in returning to UNC next season. Neither of UNC’s other starters with remaining eligibility, guards Caleb Love and R.J. Davis, have yet announced their decisions, as of Friday afternoon.

 

Featured image via Todd Melet

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