SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Penn State junior Lamar Stevens has been named to the watch list for the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award as announced today by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Stevens, from North Wales, Pennsylvania, is one of the 20 student-athletes selected for the watch list for the 2019 award.
Named after Class of 1993 Hall of Famer and 16-year professional basketball player Julius Erving, the annual honor in its fifth year recognizes the top small forwards in Division I men's college basketball. A national committee comprising top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
Stevens was voted the Most Outstanding Player of the 2018 National Invitation Tournament as he helped lead Penn State to its second NIT title this past March. He scored a game-high 28 points in the championship game and with that total, eclipsed the 1,000 career point mark, becoming only the second Penn State sophomore to achieve that milestone. An All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention, Stevens recorded double figures in 33 games in 2017-18 and with 10 games of 20 points or more, including two 30-point games.
"Julius Erving is well-known for his flare and competitive spirit which have made him one of the most admired and respected in the game across all generations," said John L. Doleva, president and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "It is an honor to have his involvement in the Naismith Starting 5 and we look forward to recognizing the young man who most closely mirrors the passion and athleticism of Dr. J 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 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. In 1996, he was named a member of the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.
By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2019 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Erving and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The winner of the 2019 Julius Erving Award will be presented at the College Basketball Awards presented by Wendy's in Los Angeles,on April 12, 2019, along with the other four members of the Naismith Starting 5.
Previous winners of the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award include Mikal Bridges, Villanova (2018), Josh Hart, Villanova (2017), Denzel Valentine, Michigan State (2016) and Stanley Johnson, Arizona (2015).