The Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award is an annual basketball award given by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to the top men’s collegiate small forward.
Former SPASH star and Marquette star Sam Hauser, now in his senior season at the University of Virginia, has been named on the Erving Award preseason watch list.
As shared by Hoophallawards.com:
Julius Erving could jump, run, shoot, score, dunk, play defense, rebound, and fill arena seats everywhere he played. He 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 to the American Basketball Association and was the league’s most recognizable player when it merged with the National Basketball Association in 1976.
“Dr. J’s” game of in-your-face hoops appealed to everyone and he made the game cool to play and to watch. During his sixteen scintillating seasons in both the ABA and NBA, Erving redefined the forward position. Flamboyant and artistic — opponents knew where Dr. J was zooming, but few could stop his offensive assault. Playing above the rim, Erving popularized being airborne. His style and grace both on and off the court led many to call him an American treasure. A two-time ABA MVP, Erving led the New York Nets to two ABA championships. In 1976, Erving moved to the NBA and became a Philadelphia 76er. In 1983, he led the 76ers to the NBA championship. His unique athleticism coupled with his star power made Dr. J a household name worldwide.
20212021 Erving Award PRESEASON WATCH LIST
| PLAYER NAME | SCHOOL |
|---|---|
| Derrick Alston Jr. | Boise State |
| Jalen Johnson | Duke |
| Wendell Moore | Duke |
| Jayden Gardner | East Carolina |
| Keyontae Johnson | Florida |
| Corey Kispert | Gonzaga |
| Brandon Boston Jr. | Kentucky |
| D.J. Jeffries | Memphis |
| Aaron Wiggins | Maryland |
| Isaiah Livers | Michigan |
| Aaron Henry | Michigan State |
| Ron Harper Jr. | Rutgers |
| Matt Mitchell | San Diego State |
| Ziaire Williams | Stanford |
| Yves Pons | Tennessee |
| Terrence Shannon Jr. | Texas Tech |
| Chris Smith | UCLA |
| Timmy Allen | Utah |
| Jermaine Samuels | Villanova |
| Sam Hauser | Virginia |
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
