Washington State University Athletics
Photo by: Dean Hare/WSU Photo Services
Robert Franks Named to Julius Erving Watch List
October 17, 2018 | Men's Basketball
Franks is one of 20 to be named to the list.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Washington State men's basketball senior Robert Franks, Jr., has been named to the 20-member 2019 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award Watch List, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced, Wednesday.
Franks is one of five Pac-12 student-athletes named to the list, as he's joined by Oregon's Louis King, Oregon State's Tres Tinkle, UCLA's Kris Wilkes, and Washington's Matissse Thybulle.Â
A native of Vancouver, Wash., Franks led the Cougars and ranked seventh in the Pac-12 with 17.4 points per game (142nd nationally) in 2017-18, and had a WSU second-best and Pac-12 15th-best with 6.6 rebounds per game. Franks' field goal percentage of .476 (175-for-368) ranked 14th in the Pac-12 and 151st nationally, while he was the fourth-best with a .854 free throw mark, ranking 59th in the nation. Franks also ranked ninth in the Pac-12 for 3-pointers made, as he set the WSU and tied the Pac-12 single-game record by hitting 10 3-pointers against California, Jan. 13. Franks became the third Cougar to pick up the Pac-12 Most Improved Player of the Year Award, and received All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention at the end of the 2017-2018 season.Â
The Julius Erving Small Forward Award is named after class of 1993 Hall of Famer and 16-year-old 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.
"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."
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's in Los Angeles, CA on Friday, April 12, 2019, along with the other four members of the Naismith Starting 5. Additional awards being presented and sponsored by Eaton Ephesus Lighting include the Bob Cousy Point Guard Award, the Jerry West Shooting Guard Award, the Karl Malone Power Forward Award and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center Award. Broadcast information will be released by ESPN at a later date.
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).
For more information on the 2019 Julius Erving Award and the latest updates, visit www.hoophallawards.com.Â
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 St
Lamar Stevens, Â Â Â Penn St
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 St.
*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2018-19 season*
Franks is one of five Pac-12 student-athletes named to the list, as he's joined by Oregon's Louis King, Oregon State's Tres Tinkle, UCLA's Kris Wilkes, and Washington's Matissse Thybulle.Â
A native of Vancouver, Wash., Franks led the Cougars and ranked seventh in the Pac-12 with 17.4 points per game (142nd nationally) in 2017-18, and had a WSU second-best and Pac-12 15th-best with 6.6 rebounds per game. Franks' field goal percentage of .476 (175-for-368) ranked 14th in the Pac-12 and 151st nationally, while he was the fourth-best with a .854 free throw mark, ranking 59th in the nation. Franks also ranked ninth in the Pac-12 for 3-pointers made, as he set the WSU and tied the Pac-12 single-game record by hitting 10 3-pointers against California, Jan. 13. Franks became the third Cougar to pick up the Pac-12 Most Improved Player of the Year Award, and received All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention at the end of the 2017-2018 season.Â
The Julius Erving Small Forward Award is named after class of 1993 Hall of Famer and 16-year-old 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.
"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."
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's in Los Angeles, CA on Friday, April 12, 2019, along with the other four members of the Naismith Starting 5. Additional awards being presented and sponsored by Eaton Ephesus Lighting include the Bob Cousy Point Guard Award, the Jerry West Shooting Guard Award, the Karl Malone Power Forward Award and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center Award. Broadcast information will be released by ESPN at a later date.
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).
For more information on the 2019 Julius Erving Award and the latest updates, visit www.hoophallawards.com.Â
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 St
Lamar Stevens, Â Â Â Penn St
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 St.
*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2018-19 season*
Players Mentioned
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