Varnado Named to Julius Erving Award Watch List

Troy, Ala. – Troy men's basketball senior Jordon Varnado has been named to the 2019 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award Watch List as announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Wednesday afternoon.

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 basketball. A national committee comprising top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.

Varnado was named to the All-Sun Belt Second Team in 2017-18 after averaging 18.0 points, seven rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game in 26 games played. The senior made a team-high 174 field goals, shooting 47.8 percent (174-of-364) from the field. The Brownsville, Tenn., native scored double-digit points in all but two games played.

In conference play last season, Varnado ranked seventh in points per game (17.6), 10th in rebounds per game (6.8), third in field goal percentage (.500) and seventh in blocks per game (1.3). Varnado was also a member of the All-Sun Belt First Team after the 2016-17 campaign.

This past summer on the Foreign Tour to Costa Rica, Varnado posted two double-doubles in three games played. In the first game against Laurentian, the senior led the way with 17 points and 11 rebounds leading Troy to an 83-59 win. In the third and final game of the trip, Varnado dropped 21 points alongside 10 rebounds to help the Trojans squeeze out a 79-77 victory over Laurentian.

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 Mr. 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'sin Los Angeles, CA., on Friday, 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).

2019 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award Candidates
Dylan Windler, Belmont
Cam Reddish, Duke
Elijah Minnie, Eastern Michigan
Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga
Keldon Johnson, Kentucky
Sam Hauser, Marquette
Aaron Wiggins, Maryland
Caleb Martin, Nevada
Nassir Little, North Carolina
Louis King, Oregon
Tres Tinkle, Oregon State
Lamar Stevens, Penn State
O'Shea Brissett, Syracuse
Admiral Schofield, Tennessee
Jordon Varnado, Troy
Kris Wilkes, UCLA
De'Andre Hunter, Virginia
Jaylen Hoard, Wake Forest
Matisse Thybulle, Washington
Robert Franks Jr., Washington State

Troy University Athletics

Varnado Named to Julius Erving Award Watch List

Players Mentioned

Jordon Varnado

Related Videos