Former UNC men’s basketball standout Leaky Black has signed a two-way contract with the Charlotte Hornets, marking Black’s first foray into the NBA.

Black, who is originally from Concord, N.C., played five seasons at Carolina under head coaches Roy Williams and Hubert Davis, becoming known for his outstanding defensive ability. Some of Black’s notable defensive performances include holding Duke star A.J. Griffin to a combined 11 points in UNC’s two wins against the Blue Devils in 2022. Black also held Alabama star Brandon Miller (selected by the Hornets with the second overall pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft) to a 4-21 shooting night in the teams’ four-overtime marathon during the PK85 tournament last November. Black earned spots on the ACC All-Defensive Team in 2022 and 2023, becoming Carolina’s first representative on the team since Brice Johnson in 2016.

Though never known for his offense, Black improved his scoring prowess toward the end of his Carolina career. The 2022-23 season saw Black set a career-high with 18 points against Wake Forest, then reach that total again against Florida State. He shot a combined 6-9 on three-pointers in those two games and finished with a 32.6 three-point percentage on the year, second-best on the team among players with at least 20 attempts.

Black finished his five-year college career as UNC’s all-time leader in games played with 155 (130 of which he started), breaking a record previously held by Deon Thompson. Like Thompson, Black represented Carolina at the Final Four, starting every game during the 2021-22 season and becoming known as one-fifth of the team’s “Iron 5” lineup. Black played all 40 minutes against Duke in the national semifinals, posting eight points, nine rebounds (six offensive), two assists and a block. He’s one of only five Tar Heels in program history to record at least 600 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists, 100 steals and 50 blocks.

 

Featured image via Todd Melet

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
Chansky's Notebook: Credentials
While Tommy Lloyd appears to be UNC’s top choice for its next men’s basketball coach, Billy Donovan isn’t exactly the worst backup option.
Chansky's Notebook: Déjà Blue
For the second straight year, a Duke-UNC game served as an omen for the end of the Blue Devils’ season in the NCAA Tournament.
A Brief History of UNC Men's Basketball Head Coaching Searches
As we near the one-week mark of the UNC men’s basketball head coaching vacancy, rumors continue to swirl about the Tar Heels’ potential targets. If leading candidates are any indication, the next head coach will not come from the “Carolina Family,” breaking a streak that began with Dean Smith. Since Smith, each UNC head coach […]
Chansky's Notebook: Tricky Timetable
Two of the prime candidates for UNC's head coaching job will be competing against each other in the Final Four Saturday night.
UNC's Caleb Wilson Declares for 2026 NBA Draft
UNC star freshman Caleb Wilson will forgo his remaining college eligibility and enter the 2026 NBA Draft, he announced on social media Friday night. Wilson’s announcement comes less than a week after the university dismissed Hubert Davis as the head coach of the men’s basketball program. View this post on Instagram Wilson finished his freshman […]
Lloyd, May or Donovan? Pros and Cons of 3 Candidates for the UNC Men's Basketball Head Coaching Job
As UNC continues to search for its next men’s basketball head coach, three names which have been floated as prime candidates for the job are Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd, Michigan head coach Dusty May and Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan. All three men have had ringing success on the college stage, but there […]
Chansky's Notebook: The Pool
Written by MICHAEL KOH Bubba Cunningham and UNC are confident they’ll have their pick of the litter for a new men’s basketball coach. Cunningham and incoming athletic director Steve Newmark appeared on a special edition of the “Carolina Insider Podcast” earlier this week, and both detailed the decision making which led to Hubert Davis’ exit. […]
The Best and Worst UNC Men's Basketball Games in the Hubert Davis Era
UNC head coach Hubert Davis’ time in Chapel Hill is officially over after five seasons, with the university announcing the men’s basketball program’s change of leadership on Tuesday. Davis’ tenure was defined by its high highs and low lows, and ultimately that inconsistency led to his dismissal. Here are some of the best wins and […]
Chansky's Notebook: You're a Good Man, Hubert Davis
The ugliness and awkwardness of Hubert Davis’ exit from the UNC men's basketball program should not overshadow the man he is.
UNC Parts Ways with Men's Basketball Head Coach Hubert Davis After 5 Seasons
UNC men’s basketball head coach Hubert Davis will not return after five seasons in charge, the program announced Tuesday night. Carolina Athletics shared a release at 9 p.m. with the announcement, saying it was parting ways with Davis after several days of discussions and review of his time leading the program. “We appreciate all that […]
›