Arkansas
Meet the Orlando Magic Rookie: Anthony Black is Arkansas’ favorite son

The NBA Draft process is always a long one.
If trying to predict who the Orlando Magic are going to pick or what a team is going to do, it feels a bit like the stock market. We are all trying to read the tea leaves of mock drafts, self-evaluation and knowledge of a team’s wants and history to try to figure out who each team will pick.
The Magic do a good job keeping their intentions fairly private, leading to plenty of guessing. But this year, a favorite did appear to emerge late in the process — or at least for the No. 6 pick, nobody saw who the Magic were taking at 11.
Anthony Black seemed to check all the boxes for the Magic and president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman. He is a 6-foot-7 point guard, meaning he has positional and skill versatility. He is a tenacious defender, perhaps the best perimeter defender in his draft class. And, by all accounts, he is a good player who is absolutely beloved by everyone associated with Arkansas.
The Orlando Magic are eager to welcome Anthony Black and see him out on the floor. We meet him from Arkansas’ perspective as the former Razorback prepares for Summer League.
The questions with Black fell to his shooting, which clearly was a bit of a work in progress. His percentages were not good in college. But he is a constant driver who puts pressure on the defense. His size works for him on both ends of the floor.
At the end of the day, both of the Magic’s picks fit their profile and that is why they have him.
So who is Anthony Black? The Orlando Magic are going to find out very quickly Saturday when they make their Summer League debut against the Detroit Pistons. All eyes will certainly be on Black for that moment.
Before we get there, we wanted to try to learn more about Black beyond the scouting report. So we reached out to Jacob Davis of Arkansas Fight to learn more about Black and his time at Arkansas:
Philip Rossman-Reich, Orlando Magic Daily (@philiprr_OMD): Everything I have heard about Anthony Black from Arkansas is that everyone in Fayetteville loved him and the way he played. What stood out about Black’s year with the Razorbacks and what made him so beloved even after one year?
Jacob Davis, Arkansas Fight (@JacobScottDavis): Anthony Black is a lovable character on and off the court. He brings so much energy every single game and maximum effort as well.
Something that stood out about him this year is being intentional with fans. Off the court, he made sure to take pictures with fans, hand out autographs and such. Obviously, the hair stands out so it makes him recognizable to average fans and kids.
Philip: Everyone seems to know Black for his defense first and foremost and his basketball IQ and playmaking. How did that develop throughout the season and what stood out about it as the season went on?
Jacob: Looking back at some of his breakout performances in Maui was the ability to score the basketball. As the season went on, he became more of an unselfish character looking to distribute but score when needed.
The three-ball was not always there but he did get better throughout the season finishing at 30 percent. If he continues to develop as a perimeter shooter the sky is the limit.
Philip: Are you concerned about his shot long-term? How did Black work around his shooting shortcomings last year?
Jacob: I am not very concerned about it as much as others. Like I said in the last question, he did get better as the season progressed.
Black has a beautiful shot that with repetition could iron the wrinkles out of it. He is dedicated to shooting the basketball and, with more spacing, his mid-range could be a game-changer for his career.
Philip: What influence did Eric Musselman have on his season and development? How key do you think it will be to have a coach with NBA experience for his adjustment to the NBA?
Jacob: It will be an easier transition than most because Musselman has so many connections around the NBA. He knows the game and what the league is looking for with future talent.
“Space and Pace” is the name of Arkansas’ game under Musselman and will continue to be like that. It helps develop current players’ skills and makes them professionally ready.
Black’s familiarity with the NBA system is key to his future success because of what he learned at Arkansas. Deep film sessions and scouting reports are very impressive and that is what he has already been influenced by with being a Razorback.
Philip: You wrote that you believe Anthony Black can win Rookie of the Year this season. What do you see as his ceiling in the NBA?
Jacob: His raw abilities as a slasher and a bigger guard capable of making the most of his opportunities at the rim will make him an exciting player to watch.
Black has sneaky-good athleticism and balances himself well while creating contact in the lane.
Being on a larger floor with more room to operate will help with his distributing skills, too. Black is readymade to be a playmaker in the league and should help the Magic be a more exciting team now and in the future.
My thanks to Jacob for taking the time to answer some of our questions. Black makes his Orlando Magic Summer League debut on Saturday in Las Vegas.
- Published on 07/07/2023 at 10:59 AM
- Last updated at 07/07/2023 at 10:59 AM

Arkansas
Top Arkansas football recruits enroll at new schools
Top Arkansas football recruits enroll at new schools
The 2024-2025 school year is wrapping up and several of Arkansas’ top football recruits have already announced that they have enrolled in new schools.
Below are five players from the 2026 class who have confirmed they will be donning new uniforms on the gridiron this coming fall.
Click here to see the Rivals Top 10 for 2026.
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OL – Evan Goodwin – Bauxite
Previous school: Pulaski Academy
2024 stats: 85% grade, 52 knockdowns, 12 pancakes, 5 sacks allowed
Final four: Mississippi State, Missouri, Oklahoma State, SMU
RB – TJ Hodges – Bryant
Previous school: Marked Tree
2024 stats: 156 carries, 1,752 yards (11.2 YPC), 22 TD, 10 receptions, 171 yards, 2 TD
DL – Anthony Kennedy Jr. – Little Rock Central
Previous school: Maumelle
2024 stats: 23 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 2 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble
LB – Jackson Redman – Robinson
Previous school: Pulaski Academy
2024 stats: 90 total tackles, 34 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, 4 fumble recoveries
LB – Jakore Smith – Bryant
Previous school: Parkview
2024 stats: 51 tackles, 3 sacks
Committed to Oklahoma on May 15.
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Arkansas
Boogie Fland commits to Florida basketball: How the former Arkansas guard fits at UF

Swampcast breaks down Florida baseball resurgence, Florida softball regionals
The Sun’s Kevin Brockway and Noah Ram discusses Florida softball regionals, Boogie Fland rumors and Florida baseball’s resurgence with the SEC Network’s Nick Belmonte.
- Fland averaged 13.5 points and 5.1 assists as a freshman at Arkansas despite missing time with a thumb injury.
- Florida’s coaching staff believes Fland can play alongside incoming transfer point guard Xavian Lee.
- A substantial NIL deal reportedly influenced Fland’s decision to join the Gators.
Florida basketball landed another impact piece to its backcourt, as former five-star recruit Boogie Fland committed to the Florida Gators on May 20.
The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Fland withdrew his name from the NBA Draft last week and visited UF’s campus on May 19-20. He entered the transfer portal after averaging 13.5 points and 5.1 assists in his freshman season at Arkansas.
Fland shot 37.9% from the field and 34% from 3-point range in his freshman year at Arkansas, but missed significant time during the SEC schedule last season with a thumb injury.
A combo guard out of Archbishop Stepinac High in White Plains, N.Y., Fland was the 22nd-rated overall player and third-rated point guard in the Class of 2024 before signing to play for John Calipari and the Razorbacks. Now Fland will play under Florida coach Todd Golden, who guided UF to a 36-4 record in 2024-25 and its third national title in school history in April.
“Boogie is a winner,” said Pat Massaroni, Fland’s former high school at Archbishop Stepinac. “Boogie won a lot here. Boogie’s won a lot in his basketball career. At 6-2, 6-3, he’s a dynamic guard who can really score the ball. He can be a pass-first point guard. He rebounds really well for his size. And obviously he has to continue to shoot the ball at a higher clip, in Todd’s system, which is going to be important. I think the biggest thing is continue to transform his game in that system, will be key.”
How Boogie Fland fits with Florida basketball
Fland completes a Florida backcourt makeover, as UF has signed Princeton transfer point guard Xaivian Lee and Ohio shooting guard A.J. Brown to help replace the production lost from losing All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard to eligibility and combo guard Denzel Aberdeen to the transfer portal (Kentucky).
Massaroni admitted he had some questions about how Fland would fit playing with Lee at the same time.
“Todd and his staff feel they can play together both on an off the ball,” Massaroni said. “Both are scoring guards, both are dynamic in that regard and be interchangeable and obviously they’ve returned some pieces here and have one more in (Alex) Condon that can really make them explosive across the board, especially with the size and length.”
Fland’s thumb injury, Massaroni said, impacted his shooting at the start of SEC play, but credited him for coming back in March after a 10-week absence to help the Razorbacks make a run to the Sweet 16. Massaroni said Fland is back to 100% after the thumb injury.
“I got to see him to his predraft workouts in mid-May and April,” Massaroni said. “He looked like a different player. His body looked great. His conditioning looked great. And look, he had some late-first-round opportunities that I think were on the table, but I think he wants to prove that he can be a Top 15 pick. Todd and his staff and those guys feel the same way.”
A hefty Name, Image and Likeness deal, which CBSSports.com’s Matt Norlander is reporting was north of $2 million, played into Fland’s decision to commit to the Gators. But so did UF’s facilities and the chance for Fland to improve his draft stock on a winning team.
“Florida’s resources, their facilities, you know Boogie’s gotta transform his body and he’s gotta be more efficient at the rim,” Massaroni said. “I think both of those things, in Todd’s system, could allow for that.”
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com
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Arkansas
Arkansas sophomore Jose Marin wins golf title

CARLSBAD, Calif. — Arkansas sophomore Maria Jose Marin kept her poise down the stretch and closed with a birdie for a 3-under 69 for a two-shot victory Monday in the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship at La Costa.
Jose Marin became the third woman from Arkansas to win the NCAA title, joining Stacy Lewis (2007) and Maria Fassi (2019).
“I have mixed emotions, and the strongest is I’m super happy right now,” Jose Marin said. “I trust my game on every single shot. I knew I was capable of a great round, and it was.”
Arkansas also is among eight teams advancing to the match play for the NCAA team title over the next two days. Stanford overwhelmed the field and will be the No. 1 seed for the fifth consecutive year. Stanford has won two of the past three years.
Virginia took the No. 8 seed when Arizona State and South Carolina faded late. Other teams advancing were Oregon, Northwestern, Florida State, Southern Cal and Texas.
Jose Marin seized control with a 65 in the third round of the 72-hole individual championship, and she stayed in front until Kelly Xu of Stanford and Florida State’s Mirabel Ting made a charge.
Jose Marin made her lone bogey with a three-putt from 35 feet on the 13th hole, and Xu holed an 8-foot birdie putt on the 11th to pull within one shot. On her next hole, the Arkansas sophomore ran her birdie putt some 5 feet by and holed that for par.
Xu fell back going long of the par-3 12th, chipping to 6 feet and making bogey. But then it was Ting, running off four birdies in six holes on the back nine to get within two shots. Jose Marin didn’t blink, however, and sealed it with a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-5 closing hole.
She finished at 12-under 276 and earns a spot in the U.S. Women’s Open next week at Erin Hills in Wisconsin.
Ting also made birdie for a 68 to finish second. Moments after Jose Marin made her final birdie, Xu hit her tee shot on the par-3 16th into the middle of the pond short of the green and took double bogey. She birdied the final hole for a 71 to finish third.
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