Iowa State Media Relations
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Iowa State sophomore forward Milan Momcilovic has been named to the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Watch List, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced Wednesday.
The annual Julius Erving Award, named after the Class of 1993 Hall of Famer and 16-year professional basketball player, celebrates its 11th year by recognizing the top small forwards in Division I men’s college basketball.
Momcilovic is one of five Big 12 players on the 20-member watch list.
In his rookie campaign, Momcilovic tied a school record for most starts and appearances in a season by starting all 37 games. He averaged 10.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game, while shooting 42.4 percent from the field and 35.9 percent from downtown. Momcilovic was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team, while also picking up Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team honors after helping the Cyclones to their fifth tournament championship in the last 10 seasons. Momcilovic hit four 3-pointers and scored 18 points in ISU’s 69-41 victory over No. 1 Houston in the Big 12 Championship game and followed that with 19 points on three 3-pointers against South Dakota State in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting starting 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 five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Erving and the Hall of Fame’s selection committees, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committees for the Julius Erving Award is composed of top men’s college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
The winner of the 2025 Erving Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy Award (Point Guard), Jerry West Award (Shooting Guard), Karl Malone Award (Power Forward) and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center). Iowa State’s Tamin Lipsey is also on the Bob Cousy Award Watch List.
Previous winners of the Julius Erving Award are Dalton Knecht, Tennessee (2024), Jalen Wilson, Kansas (2023), Wendell Moore Jr., Duke (2022), Corey Kispert, Gonzaga (2021), Saddiq Bey, Villanova (2020), Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga (2019), Mikal Bridges, Villanova (2018), Josh Hart, Villanova (2017), Denzel Valentine, Michigan State (2016), and Stanley Johnson, Arizona (2015).
