FAYETTEVILLE — After putting together one of the best freshman seasons in program history, Arkansas guard Anthony Black is turning pro.
Black, one of the Razorbacks’ 5-star signees in their 2022 recruiting class, made the announcement Wednesday on the set of ESPN's NBA Today. He is the fourth Arkansas player to declare for this year’s NBA Draft, following freshman guard Nick Smith, junior guard Davonte Davis and wing Ricky Council.
Davis entered the draft while maintaining his college eligibility.
“It's kind of a surreal feeling just knowing growing up [that] a lot of kids hope to be in this position. I just got super blessed to be able to be here,” Black said. “It's kind of surreal still, but I'm just right now focused on working and getting better and making sure I'm ready whenever the time comes.”
On March 28, The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie projected Black as the No. 7 pick in the draft to the Portland Trail Blazers.
“He’s maybe the smartest, most reactive player in the class; a genuine point guard at 6-foot-7 who makes rapid decisions on the fly to keep the offense in flow,” Vecenie wrote. “He’s also a very tough, switchable defender. ... But questions have long persisted regarding his shot.
“Black has a funky-looking shot that will take some work. But teams really love the way he sees the game.”
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NBADraft.net and NBA Draft Room projected him at No. 7 and No. 9, respectively, and Bleacher Report listed him at No. 7 on April 4. He is projected at No. 8 on ESPN's latest mock draft.
Black was an iron man for the Razorbacks, leading the team with 1,255 minutes — fourth most by an Arkansas player since 1977-78 — and starting all 36 games. He battled knee and ankle injuries, and even sickness, down the stretch of the season.
“Definitely I’ll tell anybody who is going to go through this how hard it is,” Black said after the Razorbacks’ Sweet 16 loss to Connecticut. “Just listen to people who have been there before. They know what they're talking about.
“But, I mean, it was a good season for the most part, and I had fun this year.”
He closed the season first on the team in assists (141) and steals (74), and second in scoring (12.8) and total rebounds (182). According to HogStats.com, Black is the only player in program history to reach 450-plus points, 180-plus rebounds and 140-plus assists in a season.
Black scored a season-high 26 points against Louisville and Creighton in back-to-back games at the Maui Invitational, and contributed at least 15 points in 12 games. He had 20-plus points at Auburn and against Mississippi State and UConn.
Black had 8 rebounds 4 times, recorded 8 assists in 3 games, tallied 5 steals in 3 games and blocked 4 shots once.
The 6-7 guard shot 45.3% from the field, 30.1% beyond the arc and 70.5% at the free throw line. He put up 13.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and led the team with 4.6 assists in SEC games.
Black's announcement came shortly after the Razorbacks gained a commitment from Temple transfer guard Khalif Battle.