SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Gonzaga's
Michael Ajayi was named to the Julius Erving Award Watch List. The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the 20 watch-list candidates Wednesday.
Named after Class of 1993 Hall of Famer and 16-year professional basketball player Julius Erving, the annual honor, in its 11th year, recognizes the top small forwards in Division I men's college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
Ajayi, a transfer from Pepperdine, led the West Coast Conference in scoring last season at 17.1 points per game. As a junior, he was second in the WCC grabbing 9.9 rebounds per outing. He made 46.7 percent from the field, including 47 percent from behind-the-arc. Ajayi scored at least 20 points 11 times this season and hit 30 twice.
Erving attended the University of Massachusetts (1968-70) 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. During his professional career, Erving won three championships, four Most Valuable Player awards, and three scoring titles. He was named a member of the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996 and was listed as one of the league's 75 greatest players in 2021.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in each of the three rounds starting on Friday. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2025 Julius Erving Award will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February, to just five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Erving and the Hall of Fame's selection committee, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committee for the Julius Erving Award is composed of top men's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
The winner of the 2025 Julius Erving Award will be presented on a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the Men's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy Award (Point Guard), Jerry West Award (Shooting Guard), Karl Malone (Power Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center).
Previous winners of the Julius Erving Award include Dalton Knecht, Tennessee (2024), Jalen Wilson, Kansas (2023), Wendell Moore Jr., Duke (2022), Corey Kispert, Gonzaga (2021), Saddiq Bey, Villanova (2020), Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga (2019), Mikal Bridges, Villanova (2018), Josh Hart, Villanova (2017), Denzel Valentine, Michigan State (2016), and Stanley Johnson, Arizona (2015).
For more information on the 2025 Julius Erving Award and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu and #ErvingAward on X and Instagram.
2025 Julius Erving Award Candidates*
| Trey Townsend |
Arizona |
| BJ Freeman |
Arizona State |
| Chad Baker-Mazara |
Auburn |
| Tyson Degenhart |
Boise State |
| Cooper Flagg |
Duke |
| Michael Ajayi |
Gonzaga |
| Mackenzie Mgbako |
Indiana |
| Payton Sandfort |
Iowa |
| Milan Momcilovic |
Iowa State |
| A.J. Storr |
Kansas |
| Jaxson Robinson |
Kentucky |
| Matthew Cleveland |
Miami |
| Frankie Fidler |
Michigan State |
| Mark Mitchell |
Missouri |
| Ian Jackson |
North Carolina |
| Drake Powell |
North Carolina |
| Ace Bailey |
Rutgers |
| Arthur Kaluma |
Texas |
| Liam McNeeley |
UConn |
| Tucker DeVries |
West Virginia |
*
Players can play their way onto and off the list at any point in the 2024-2025 season.
