The Magic Insider

BREAKING: Magic Takes Anthony Black; Starter Next Season?

The Orlando Magic is starting off draft night by taking Anthony Black from Arkansas.

Jeremy Brener

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ORLANDO - The Orlando Magic draft class is starting off with a bang.

With the No. 6 pick, the Magic is selecting Anthony Black from Arkansas.

"With elite size for a guard, Black has the perfect build for the modern NBA," SI writes. "He’s a natural lead guard that can also play off ball on the wing. He’s the ideal prospect for the positionless game that the NBA is trending towards. Black is a player that relies more on skill than athleticism."

In 36 games during his freshman season, Black averaged 12.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.1 steals in just under 35 minutes per game.

The Duncanville, Tx. native’s 6-7 frame brings size to the backcourt, which helps Black leave his stamp on the defensive end. Black’s height and athleticism give him the ability to guard multiple positions, as his activity and hands are some of the best in the class.

Offensively, Black showcases a high basketball IQ as an unselfish playmaker. His size for a lead guard gives him an advantage to see above smaller defenders with swift floor vision.

Black isn’t necessarily a natural scorer or knockdown shooter as he’s a true pass-first guard, but has the tools to continue improvement in both areas. 

The Magic is back on the clock with the No. 11 pick.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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