Indiana University Athletics
Anunoby on Julius Erving Award Watch List
10/19/2016 1:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SPRINGFIELD, MASS. – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the 20 watch list members for the 2017 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award, and Indiana's OG Anunoby was included on the list.
The native of Jefferson City, Missouri, Anunoby has been tabbed a preseason All-American by The Sporting News after a breakout second half of the 2015-16 season. During his freshman year, he played in 34 games and averaged 4.9 points and 2.6 rebounds. But those numbers increased to 5.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in conference play. He saved his best performances for the end of the season, when he scored 14 points in 15 minutes off the bench against Chattanooga in the NCAA Tournament and then followed that up with seven points, three rebounds, three blocks, two steals, and an assist against Kentucky in the Round of 32.
Named after Hall of Famer and 11-time NBA All-Star Julius Erving, the annual honor in its third year recognizes the top small forwards in Division I men's college basketball. A national committee comprised of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
"Julius Erving is unquestionably one of the most respected and gifted athletes to ever play the game of basketball," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "Before he was the professional super star known as Dr. J, he was an outstanding small forward at UMass. The young men on this watch list have shown glimpses of Mr. Erving's skillset and we look forward to watching them develop this season."
Julius Erving attended the University of Massachusetts and averaged 26.3 points and 20.2 rebounds per game, making him one of only six NCAA men's basketball players to average more than 20 points and 20 rebounds per game. After two seasons, Erving made the jump the American Basketball Association and was the league's most recognizable player when it merged with the National Basketball Association in 1976. During his professional career, Erving won three championships, four most valuable player awards and three scoring titles. In 1996, he was named a member of the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.
"I'm excited to be a part of this process as we set out to identify the top small forward in the college game this year," said Julius Erving, a 1993 inductee of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. "These student-athletes have worked tirelessly to earn their places on this elite watch list and I know they will continue to improve throughout the season. It's anyone's award to be earned."
By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2017 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Mr. Erving and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The winner of the 2017 Julius Erving Award will be presented at the ESPN College Basketball Awards in Los Angeles, CA on Friday, April 7, 2017. Broadcast information will be released at a later date.
Previous winners of the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award include Denzel Valentine, Michigan State (2016) and Stanley Johnson, Arizona (2015). For more information on the 2017 Julius Erving Award, log onto www.HoophallAwards.com.
2017 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award Candidates
*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2016-17 season*
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was invented, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level – professional, collegiate and high school, for both men and women on the global stage.
For more information:
Visit us online: www.hoophall.com or www.hoophallawards.com
The native of Jefferson City, Missouri, Anunoby has been tabbed a preseason All-American by The Sporting News after a breakout second half of the 2015-16 season. During his freshman year, he played in 34 games and averaged 4.9 points and 2.6 rebounds. But those numbers increased to 5.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in conference play. He saved his best performances for the end of the season, when he scored 14 points in 15 minutes off the bench against Chattanooga in the NCAA Tournament and then followed that up with seven points, three rebounds, three blocks, two steals, and an assist against Kentucky in the Round of 32.
Named after Hall of Famer and 11-time NBA All-Star Julius Erving, the annual honor in its third year recognizes the top small forwards in Division I men's college basketball. A national committee comprised of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
"Julius Erving is unquestionably one of the most respected and gifted athletes to ever play the game of basketball," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "Before he was the professional super star known as Dr. J, he was an outstanding small forward at UMass. The young men on this watch list have shown glimpses of Mr. Erving's skillset and we look forward to watching them develop this season."
Julius Erving attended the University of Massachusetts and averaged 26.3 points and 20.2 rebounds per game, making him one of only six NCAA men's basketball players to average more than 20 points and 20 rebounds per game. After two seasons, Erving made the jump the American Basketball Association and was the league's most recognizable player when it merged with the National Basketball Association in 1976. During his professional career, Erving won three championships, four most valuable player awards and three scoring titles. In 1996, he was named a member of the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.
"I'm excited to be a part of this process as we set out to identify the top small forward in the college game this year," said Julius Erving, a 1993 inductee of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. "These student-athletes have worked tirelessly to earn their places on this elite watch list and I know they will continue to improve throughout the season. It's anyone's award to be earned."
By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2017 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Mr. Erving and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The winner of the 2017 Julius Erving Award will be presented at the ESPN College Basketball Awards in Los Angeles, CA on Friday, April 7, 2017. Broadcast information will be released at a later date.
Previous winners of the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award include Denzel Valentine, Michigan State (2016) and Stanley Johnson, Arizona (2015). For more information on the 2017 Julius Erving Award, log onto www.HoophallAwards.com.
2017 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award Candidates
| Evan Bradds | Belmont |
| Kelan Martin | Butler |
| Jaron Blossomgame | Clemson |
| Terry Larrier | Connecticut |
| Jayson Tatum | Duke |
| Dwayne Bacon | Florida St. |
| OG Anunoby | Indiana |
| Deng Adel | Louisville |
| Justin Jackson | North Carolina |
| VJ Beachem | Notre Dame |
| Jae'Sean Tate | Ohio St. |
| Dillon Brooks | Oregon |
| Tres Tinkle | Oregon St. |
| Vince Edwards | Purdue |
| Dikembe Dixson | University of Illinois at Chicago |
| Kevin Hervey | UT Arlington |
| Jalen Moore | Utah St. |
| Josh Hart | Villanova |
| Markis McDuffie | Wichita St. |
| Trevon Bluiett | Xavier |
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was invented, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level – professional, collegiate and high school, for both men and women on the global stage.
For more information:
Visit us online: www.hoophall.com or www.hoophallawards.com
Players Mentioned
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