Photo by: Mike Christy / Arizona Athletics
10/28/2026 | Men's Basketball
TUCSON, Ariz. - Coming off an outstanding freshman season, Arizona sophomore Ivan Kharchenkov is one of 20 players that has been named to the Julius Erving Award Preseason Watch List as announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Wednesday. The award is given to the top small forward in the country and voted on by coaches, media and other members of the basketball community from around the country.
Kharchenkov started all 39 games and helped Arizona advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2001. He averaged 10.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals while shooting 49% from the floor for the season. This season, he was one of 10 players to receive preseason All-Big 12 honors from the conference coaches, and is widely considered one of the top perimeter defenders in the country.
The annual Julius Erving Award, named after the Class of 1993 Hall of Famer and 17-year professional basketball player, celebrates its 13th year by recognizing the top small forward in NCAA Division I men's college basketball.
2027 Julius Erving Award Candidates*
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Amari Allen
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Alabama
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Bruce Branch III
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BYU
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Coen Carr
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Michigan State
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Davis Fogle
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Gonzaga
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Amani Hansberry
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Virginia Tech
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Juke Harris
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Tennessee
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Thomas Haugh
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Florida
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Shelton Henderson
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Miami
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Arizona
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Nikola Kusturica
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UCLA
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Colben Landrew
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UConn
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Milan Momcilovic
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Kentucky
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Billy Richmond III
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Arkansas
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Pryce Sandfort
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Nebraska
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Dame Sarr
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Duke
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Andrej Stojakovic
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Illinois
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Tyran Stokes
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Kansas
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Anthony Thompson
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Ohio State
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Aiden Tobiason
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Syracuse
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Tounde Yessoufou
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St. John's
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Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballFriday, October 23
Friday, October 23
Tuesday, October 20
Saturday, October 17
