WATCH: Leaky Black makes major announcement on his future at North Carolina
The North Carolina Tar Heels are running it back. Just days after star center Armando Bacot revealed that he is returning to Chapel Hill for another season, Leaky Black did the same.
On Friday, Black tweeted a video revealing his plans for the 2022-2023 season. His time as a Tar Heel isn’t done, and he is coming back to North Carolina for his fifth and final season of eligibility.
Over the course of his four-year career at North Carolina, Black has averaged 5.0 points per game, also posting 4.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and one steal per contest in 25.5 minutes. He is a career 39.8% shooter, including a 28.1% clip from three-point range. He has also shot 74.8% from the free throw line. While Black’s numbers might not jump off the board, he is a defensive stalwart and plays a pivotal role in the Tar Heels attack.
After coming off of the bench as a freshman in 2018-2019, Black has started 96 of North Carolina’s 99 games over the past three seasons. He started all 38 games this past season. The Tar Heels made an incredible run to this year’s National Championship before losing in the title game. But now the Tar Heels hope to make it back to that game next year.
Black’s announcement was in the form of a letter to his freshman self at North Carolina
Black’s announcement was incredible, as he wrote and read a letter to his freshman self. Now, four years later, he has the opportunity to return for a fifth year and create even more memories.
“A letter to my freshman self, by Leaky Black,” Black started. “It’s the fall of 2018, and you have no idea what you’re getting into. These next four years, you will struggle., you will question yourself, and you will fail. There will be times you aren’t sure if basketball is worth it. It will be hard, but you will be stronger because of it. You will learn so much about people, and about yourself. You will learn not to read the comments, you will learn how much your family means to you, and how important the people are who support you no matter what.
“You will make friends and teammates who are more like family, you will meet coaches that change your life. You’ll become part of the Carolina family. Kids will wear t-shirts with your name on them and ask you for autographs. Being a Tar Heel will provide you with some of the best moments of your life. You will get to see how proud your parents are when you get the University of North Carolina diploma with your name on it, a moment you will remember for the rest of your life.”
Black told his freshman self that the journey to get to this point won’t be an easy one. But the experience will be worth it.
“It will be an amazing four years, and here’s the even better part. You’ll get to do it for a fifth year. That’s right, you’re going to decide to be a Tar Heel again for the 2022-2023 season. Don’t ask how it’s possible, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you. Just know that you’ll have the opportunity to play a fifth year at Carolina, and you’ll grab it. Don’t take one moment of this experience for granted. Don’t take one game that you put that North Carolina jersey on for granted, don’t take one second of running out of that Smith Center tunnel with your teammates and North Carolina family for granted.
“Enjoy every minute of it. I am Leaky Black, and I am a Tar Heel.”