BENTONVILLE — Anthony Black, back in Northwest Arkansas, posed for pictures with fans and participants at Memorial Park. Just over a year removed from playing for the Razorbacks men’s basketball team, Black took time for everyone who asked.
Black was in Bentonville as the “special guest” for the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter’s ‘Kickball for the Kids’ event Friday, put on as a fundraiser with teams from different corporate entities from around the area. Many of the groups also volunteer with the NWACS.
“It’s awesome. The whole community comes together,” NWACS communications director Kate Lunsford said. “ These teams get super excited to come play kickball for the kids. It’s fun for them and it’s team building, but they know that they’re here for a bigger reason.”
The NWACS is a nonprofit that provides services for children who have “suffered the trauma of abuse, neglect, trafficking and other adverse childhood experiences,” per a release.
“Everybody deserves to get an equal chance,” Black said. “I think what they’re doing is trying to give kids a chance who don’t really have it. All the centers they have for the kids is definitely huge. I’m big on supporting kids and helping out kids, so for sure love being here and being at the event.”
The one-and-done guard, who was selected with the 2023 NBA Draft’s sixth overall pick by the Orlando Magic, has been involved with the organization since the holiday season. Black made matching donations to those the NWACS received during the first week of December, Lunsford said.
He donated items for a Kentucky Derby event and wanted to do something on site later on, which led him to Kickball for the Kids. After the kickball tournament, Black went to the shelter for a question and answer session with the kids.
“They’re really excited to come see him,” Lunsford said. “They have questions ready for him.”
Black decided to spend time with the organization and return to Northwest Arkansas during the NBA offseason.
“The cause, that is important,” he said. “It’s a fun, athletic event, obviously something I can relate to. It’s easy coming here, have fun, roll a couple balls around and just have a good day and do right.”
When speaking on basketball, Black had mixed emotions on the Arkansas coaching change. He’s excited about the program’s future under a “great” new coach John Calipari — “it feels different seeing him somewhere other than Kentucky,” he said — but was upset to see his Razorback coach Eric Musselman leave, though he felt it worked out for both sides.
But through the reflections on his days manning the Bud Walton Arena floor and hearing NBA commissioner Adam Silver call his name on draft night and the thoughts on readying himself for his second season in the league, Black enjoyed being back in Arkansas.
His Razorback stint was short but memorable. He averaged 12.8 points while shooting 45% from the field and grabbed 5.1 rebounds per game. Black started every game during his lone season in Fayetteville and was a catalyst for Arkansas’ Sweet 16 run that season.
“It’s a lot of fun. It’s always good coming back, interacting with some of the fans, seeing some old friends, teammates,” Black said. “I like the area, so [I] for sure try to get back as much as I can.”
