UNC Basketball: Leaky Black named to Naismith Watch List

For his efforts on defense, UNC basketball standout Leaky Black has been named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watch list.

Over his career with the UNC basketball program, Leaky Black has become one of the top defensive players in the entire country.

Known as a lockdown defender, Black has made life difficult for the opposing team’s top-scoring threat. Even if the other team’s best player is struggling, Hubert Davis isn’t afraid to switch assignments so that Black has the opportunity to work against the team’s hot hand.

In what shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone, Black has earned a spot on the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watch list for the 2022-2023 season.

The Concord, North Carolina native is one of 15 players to make the list, which is mostly filled up by upperclassmen. He is also the only player from the ACC to make the cut, which is truly a testament to the effort he puts in on the defensive side of the ball.

Here’s the official list of players who have earned a spot on the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watch list.

As the list continues to trim as the season goes along, it should be expected that Black will be a serious contender to take home the award once it’s all said and done. If he continues to lockdown opponents like he’s had throughout his UNC basketball career, he very well could be considered a frontrunner to bring home the hardware.

Follow us @KeepingItHeel on Twitter and like our fan page on Facebook for continued coverage of UNC basketball news, updates, and recruiting.