Leaky Black is getting another shot to stick in the NBA, and this time the path runs through Sacramento.
The former UNC standout has signed a training camp deal with the Kings, giving him a fresh chance to carve out a roster spot and keep his professional career moving forward. For a player who became a fan favorite in Chapel Hill, it’s another step in a journey that has already taken him through the league and the G League.
Black, now 27, was released by the Washington Wizards in July. Before that move, he appeared in 15 games last season for Washington, starting nine of them, and averaged 7.1 points and five rebounds in 29 minutes per game.
His pro résumé now includes 116 games overall, with 75 of those coming in the G League. Even so, Black has already shown he can contribute at the NBA level, and his calling card has always been the same: versatility. At UNC, he was the kind of player who could fill in wherever needed, which is why he earned that “Swiss Army Knife” reputation.
He’s not built around scoring first. What he brings is defense, and plenty of it. Black can guard multiple positions, handle the ball as a facilitator, and use his athleticism to impact a game in a bunch of different ways.
Sacramento might be a useful landing spot for that skill set. The Kings went 22-60 last season and are still trying to build toward a better place in the Western Conference.
Teams in that stage of the process still need players who understand their role, bring structure, and can set a tone in the room. Black fits that mold.
A strong training camp could put him in position to win a roster spot. And if the Kings use preseason the way teams often do, those minutes become an audition not just for Sacramento, but for anyone else watching.
Tar Heel fans, for their part, are still pulling for him.
In Other News...
Tar Heels Open ACC Play With A Road Win Fans Will Notice
Safi Hampton gave Carolina the balanced effort it needed to start ACC play on the right foot, finishing with 16 kills and 13 digs as the No. 24 Tar Heels beat NC State 3-1 in Raleigh. It was Hamptons first double-double of the season, and it came in a match where Carolina also found plenty of support at the net.
The Tar Heels set a season high with 15 blocks, a sign that their front line was dictating stretches of the night and making NC State work for nearly every point. Jackie Taylor and Bridget Malone were among the players who helped turn that into a road win Carolina will want to build on as the league schedule starts to tighten. [Read more 🡒]
UNCs Bye Week Just Made Its Quarterback Decision Feel Urgent
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Miles O'Neill, the Texas A&M transfer, is now part of a decision that feels more immediate than it did a week ago. The staff has to weigh whether continuity gives UNC the best chance to steady itself or whether a change at quarterback could provide the spark it needs heading into the next stretch of games, and the uncertainty alone has made the bye week feel anything but quiet. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Malone May Have Revealed Isaiah Denis UNC Role
Michael Malone has already offered a small glimpse into how Isaiah Denis might fit with North Carolina this season, and it starts with a nickname. The Tar Heels coach has been calling the sophomore guard Bones, a nod to former Denver Nuggets guard Bones Hyland, while also using Denis at point guard in practice. For a player whose freshman year was slowed by injury, that is a meaningful sign of trust and a reminder that the staff sees more than just another guard in the rotation.
The point-guard work matters because it hints at a larger backcourt role, one that could let Denis operate as a versatile perimeter threat rather than a one-position option. If the comparison to Hyland is any indication, North Carolina may be preparing to lean on Denis for shot-making, pace and creativity as he gets healthier and settles in. The exact shape of that role is still unfolding, but the early usage suggests the Tar Heels have a clear plan in mind. [Read more 🡒]