Jan 24, 2023; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange guard Joseph Girard III (11) drives the ball against the pressure of North Carolina Tar Heels forward Leaky Black (1) in the second half at JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
North Carolina forward Leaky Black is on the short list to earn Defensive Player of the Year honors this season.
Black was 1 of 15 players to be named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watch list
on Thursday. He’s also the only player from the ACC who made the list.
A 5th-year senior, Black has long been recognized as one of the top perimeter defenders in the country. He often draws the toughest defensive assignment for North Carolina and has been excellent in that role once again this season.
He’s averaging 1.6 steals and 0.7 blocks per contest so far this year. Black is also p
osting a career high in points (7.0) and rebounds (5.6) per contest.
A North Carolina player has never won this award, which has been handed out since 2018.
North Carolina has had an up-and-down season so far, but The Tar Heels are still on track to make the NCAA Tournament. Black is expected to be a big part of Carolina’s tournament run in March.
Carolina will be in action again on Wednesday against Pittsburgh.
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