By Danielle Daniels
October 29, 2025
The award is given annually to the best small forward in the country
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State junior forward Devin Royal has been recognized as one of the 20 players for the Naismith Starting 5 – Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Top 20 Preseason Watch List.
The Julius Erving Award, named after the Class of 1993 Hall of Famer and 17-year professional basketball, celebrates its 12th year by recognizing the top small forwards in Division I men’s college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watchlist of 20 athletes.
Royal has appeared in 64 games through his first two seasons, making 27 starts last year. He averaged 13.7 points and led the team with 6.9 rebounds per game as a sophomore last season. He’s shot over 50 percent from the floor in each of his first two years and has worked extremely hard on his jump shot this offseason to prepare for his move to the small forward position.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in each of the three rounds starting on Friday, November 1. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2025 Julius Erving Award will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February, to just 5. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Cousy and the Hall of Fame’s selection committees, where winners will be selected.
Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award
Karter Knox Arkansas
Tounde Yessoufou Baylor
AJ Dybantsa BYU
Dame Sarr Duke
Derrion Reid Oklahoma
Isiah Harwell Houston
Andrej Stojaković Illinois
Tucker DeVries Indiana
Milan Momcilovic Iowa State
Coen Carr Michigan State
Darrion Williams NC State
Devin Royal Ohio State
Fletcher Loyer Purdue
Miles Byrd SDSU
Nate Ament Tennessee
Dailyn Swain Texas
LeJuan Watts Texas Tech
Eric Dailey Jr. UCLA
Braylon Mullins UConn
Chad Baker-Mazara USC
#GoBucks
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