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Black selected 6th overall by Orlando Magic
FAYETTEVILLE — Anthony Black on Thursday became one of the top NBA Draft picks in Arkansas basketball history.
A standout, do-it-all freshman for the Razorbacks in 2022-23, Black was selected by the Orlando Magic with the No. 6 overall pick. Only one former Arkansas player – Sidney Moncrief – has been taken earlier in an NBA draft.
Joe Kleine was also the No. 6 pick in 1985.
Black, who was in the green room at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, is Eric Musselman’s highest-drafted player and second lottery pick with the Razorbacks. Moses Moody was taken 14th overall by the Golden State Warriors in 2021.
“[Orlando is] getting a great human, a leader, a phenomenal basketball player, a winner, someone who is going to make everyone around him better and someone who can make the culture of a team great,” Black’s mother Jennifer said on ESPN. “They’re getting the full package.”
The program has now had at least one player selected in five consecutive drafts. It is Arkansas’ longest streak since 1978-85.
Black, who is from Duncanville, Texas, is Arkansas’ first draft pick from outside the state since Patrick Beverley in 2009.
More Anthony Black from WholeHogSports: Black humble and tough in the spotlight
“Black is maybe the smartest player in this draft class in terms of basketball IQ. He consistently makes the right play,” Sam Vecenie of The Athletic wrote. “He’s also a terrific defensive player and one of the best in the class at the point of attack while also being switchable because of his size and strength.
“Black will make good decisions and will attack at both ends of the court.”
Both ESPN and Vecenie projected him as the No. 6 pick in their latest mock drafts.
“Black does have some things teams can nitpick,” ESPN’s Jonathan Givony wrote, “but there’s no denying he’s an outstanding all-around player with an excellent feel for the game who brings significant competitiveness and winning intangibles that should allow him to have a fruitful NBA career.”
Givony added that he believes Black is the best perimeter defender in this draft class and has the potential to be an All-Star caliber player.
Black declared for the draft on the set of ESPN’s NBA Today on April 12. According to HogStats.com, he is the only player in program history to reach 450-plus points, 180-plus rebounds and 140-plus assists in a season.
He reportedly had pre-draft workouts with several teams, including the Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks, Magic, Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets.
