College Basketball

Jayson Tatum Named Erving Award Top SF Finalist

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:46 p.m. ET

Fansided, Chris Brown/FanSided via Ball Durham

Freshman forward Jayson Tatum was named one of the Top 10 finalists for the 2017 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award.

Duke freshman Jayson Tatum was recently announced as one of the Top 10 midseason finalists for this year’s Julius Erving Award. The Erving Award goes to the top small forward in college basketball.

Jayson Tatum has faced a lot of criticism this season, but is making a huge impact for the Blue Devils. Tatum missed the first eight games after suffering a foot injury during a preseason practice. The freshman forward has returned to average 16.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. He also leads the teams in steals and blocks per game since being cleared to play.

Tatum currently ranks second in the ACC in freshman scoring and rebounding and recorded his first career double-double in the team’s victory over Notre Dame recording 19 points and 14 rebounds. The 6-8 forward has actually had a new role for Duke Basketball lately as a power forward playing alongside a center.

Tatum will have some tough competition for this award 2017 Erving Award. He joins Josh Jackson (Kansas), Dillon Brooks (Oregon), Josh Hart (Villanova), and Justin Jackson (UNC) as midseason finalists. The winner of the top small forward award will be announced April 7th. Jayson Tatum and the Blue Devils will return home to host Pittsburgh Saturday afternoon at 1:00pm.