Rechon Malik "Leaky" Black (born June 14, 1999) is an American basketball player who last played for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Greensboro Swarm of the NBA G League. He played collegiately for the North Carolina Tar Heels of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
![]() Black with North Carolina in 2020 | |
Free agent | |
---|---|
Position | Small forward |
Personal information | |
Born | Concord, North Carolina, U.S. | June 14, 1999
Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
Listed weight | 209 lb (95 kg) |
Career information | |
High school |
|
College | North Carolina (2018–2023) |
NBA draft | 2023: undrafted |
Playing career | 2023–present |
Career history | |
2023–2024 | Charlotte Hornets |
2023–2024 | →Greensboro Swarm |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com | |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
College career
editBlack, raised in Concord, North Carolina, committed to coach Roy Williams and North Carolina as a high school sophomore.[1] After a shortened freshman campaign due to an ankle injury, Black entered the starting lineup in his sophomore season for the Tar Heels.[2]
As a senior, Black became one of the top defensive players in the ACC, earning conference all-defensive team honors at the close of the regular season.[3] Black was a part of a Tar Heel starting lineup that each averaged big minutes and led the eighth-seeded Tar Heels to an unexpected Final Four berth in the 2022 NCAA tournament. In the semifinal against rival Duke, Black held Duke freshman AJ Griffin to 1–7 shooting for 6 points to help secure the win.[4][5]
Professional career
editAfter going undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, Black signed a two-way contract with the Charlotte Hornets on July 19, 2023.[6] However, he was waived on August 1, 2024.[7]
Career statistics
editGP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
NBA
editYear | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023–24 | Charlotte | 26 | 3 | 10.9 | .481 | .450 | .667 | 1.8 | .9 | .3 | .4 | 2.7 |
Career | 26 | 3 | 10.9 | .481 | .450 | .667 | 1.8 | .9 | .3 | .4 | 2.7 |
College
editYear | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018–19 | North Carolina | 23 | 0 | 10.3 | .469 | .417 | .857 | 2.1 | 1.2 | .6 | .2 | 2.5 |
2019–20 | North Carolina | 32 | 31 | 29.7 | .359 | .254 | .696 | 5.0 | 2.6 | 1.3 | .8 | 6.5 |
2020–21 | North Carolina | 29 | 27 | 27.6 | .367 | .222 | .692 | 4.9 | 2.4 | 1.2 | .3 | 5.6 |
2021–22 | North Carolina | 38 | 38 | 29.7 | .466 | .333 | .868 | 4.3 | 2.7 | .9 | .7 | 4.9 |
2022–23 | North Carolina | 33 | 33 | 32.1 | .411 | .326 | .702 | 4.8 | 1.5 | 1.3 | .8 | 7.3 |
Career | 155 | 129 | 26.9 | .401 | .296 | .735 | 4.7 | 2.2 | 1.1 | .6 | 5.5 |
Personal life
editBlack has been open about his struggles with anxiety and his coping strategies that have helped him control it.[2] He earned his nickname, which comes from his middle name "Malik", from his grandmother.[8]
References
edit- ^ "Leaky Black Commits to UNC". Tar Heel Times. January 15, 2016. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ a b Witz, Billy (April 3, 2022). "Leaky Black Has a Lot on His Mind, And That's OK". New York Times. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
- ^ Koh, Michael (March 7, 2022). "Armando Bacot Named First Team All-ACC, Leaky Black Named to All-Defensive Team". Chapelboro. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
- ^ Smith, Adam (March 31, 2022). "Final Four run provides connecting point in leadership growth for UNC senior Leaky Black". Times-News. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
- ^ Sweeney, Kevin (April 3, 2022). "Five Matchups That Will Decide UNC-Kansas Title Game". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
- ^ Perley, Sam (July 19, 2023). "Charlotte Hornets Sign Leaky Black To Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
- ^ "Charlotte Hornets Waive Leaky Black". NBA.com. August 1, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ Camenker, Jacob (April 2, 2022). "Leaky Black nickname: How UNC's defensive star earned 'Leaky' moniker". Sporting News. Retrieved April 4, 2022.