Leaky Black

Leaky Black
	Black with North Carolina in 2020
No. 1 – Capital City Go-Go
Position	Small forward
League	NBA G League
Personal information
Born	June 14, 1999 (age 25); Concord, North Carolina, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight	209 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school	Concord; (Concord, North Carolina); Montverde Academy; (Montverde, Florida); Cox Mill; (Concord, North Carolina);
College	North Carolina (2018–2023)
NBA draft	2023: undrafted
Playing career	2023–present
Career history
2023–2024	Charlotte Hornets
2023–2024	→Greensboro Swarm
2024–present	Capital City Go-Go
Career highlights and awards
	2× ACC All-Defensive team (2022, 2023);
	Stats at NBA.com
	Stats at Basketball Reference

Rechon Malik "Leaky" Black (born June 14, 1999) is an American professional basketball player for the Capital City Go-Go of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels.

College career

Black, 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

Charlotte Hornets / Greensboro Swarm (2023–2024)

After 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]

Capital City Go-Go (2024–present)

On September 29, 2024, Black signed with the Washington Wizards,^[8] but was waived on October 12.^[9] On October 28, he joined the Capital City Go-Go.^[10]

Career statistics

Legend
GP	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


Year	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


Year	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

Black 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.^[11]

References

^ "Leaky Black Commits to UNC". TarHeelTimes.com. 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.
^ "Wizards Announce 2024 Training Camp Roster/Schedule". NBA.com. September 29, 2024. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
^ Wizards PR [@WizPRStats] (October 12, 2024). "Official: The Washington Wizards have waived G Kira Lewis Jr. and F Leaky Black" (Tweet). Retrieved October 13, 2024 – via Twitter.
^ "Go-Go Announce Training Camp Roster, Dates". NBA.com. October 28, 2024. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
^ Camenker, Jacob (April 2, 2022). "Leaky Black nickname: How UNC's defensive star earned 'Leaky' moniker". Sporting News. Retrieved April 4, 2022.

External links

[1] "Leaky Black Commits to UNC". TarHeelTimes.com. January 15, 2016. Retrieved March 22, 2024.

[NYT-2] Witz, Billy (April 3, 2022). "Leaky Black Has a Lot on His Mind, And That's OK". New York Times. Retrieved April 4, 2022.

[3] Koh, Michael (March 7, 2022). "Armando Bacot Named First Team All-ACC, Leaky Black Named to All-Defensive Team". Chapelboro. Retrieved April 4, 2022.

[4] 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.

[5] Sweeney, Kevin (April 3, 2022). "Five Matchups That Will Decide UNC-Kansas Title Game". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 4, 2022.

[6] Perley, Sam (July 19, 2023). "Charlotte Hornets Sign Leaky Black To Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. Retrieved July 20, 2023.

[7] "Charlotte Hornets Waive Leaky Black". NBA.com. August 1, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2024.

[8] "Wizards Announce 2024 Training Camp Roster/Schedule". NBA.com. September 29, 2024. Retrieved September 30, 2024.

[9] Wizards PR [@WizPRStats] (October 12, 2024). "Official: The Washington Wizards have waived G Kira Lewis Jr. and F Leaky Black" (Tweet). Retrieved October 13, 2024 – via Twitter.

[10] "Go-Go Announce Training Camp Roster, Dates". NBA.com. October 28, 2024. Retrieved November 3, 2024.

[11] Camenker, Jacob (April 2, 2022). "Leaky Black nickname: How UNC's defensive star earned 'Leaky' moniker". Sporting News. Retrieved April 4, 2022.

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