UNC Basketball: Justin Jackson named to Julius Erving Watch List
A UNC player has been added to another preseason award watch list
Another day, another University of North Carolina Basketball player named to an award watch list.
Tar Heels junior Justin Jackson was one of 20 forwards in the country named to the Julius Erving Award Watch List on Wednesday.
The award recognizes the nation’s top small forward in college basketball and is named after Hall of Famer Julius Erving who spent 16 years playing professionally. The award is in its third year.
Stanley Johnson (Arizona) and Denzel Valentine (Michigan State) have won the award the previous two years.
Jackson averaged 12.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in his sophomore season. He was a starter and a big key to UNC’s Final Four last season. Jackson previously tested the NBA Draft waters before pulling his name and returning to UNC.
The ACC had a total of 6 players named to the Julius Erving award watch list, including Jackson.
Joining Jackson in the conference is Jaron Blossomgame (Clemson), Jayson Tatum (Duke), Dwayne Bacon (Florida State), Deng Adel (Louisville) and VJ Beachem (Notre Dame).
Preseason watch list for the Julius Erving Award (nation's best small forward). pic.twitter.com/AdNhH3EZTb
— Jeff Rabjohns (@JeffRabjohns) October 19, 2016
The award wont be announced until late in the season, as teams begin tournament play.
On Tuesday, fellow junior Joel Berry II was named to the Bob Cousy preseason award watch list which recognizes the best point guard in nation.
Jackson, Berry and the rest of the Tar Heels will tipoff the 2016-17 season in New Orleans as they take on Tulane. Check back with Keeping It Heel for more coverage on the UNC basketball team as we approach the start of the season.
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