Indiana's Tucker DeVries named to Julius Erving Award Watchlist

Indiana basketball wing Tucker DeVries was named to the Julius Erving Award Watchlist — an award given to the top small forward in the country at the end of the season.

He was one of 20 players on the initial watchlist.

In Indiana’s exhibition games, DeVries scored 23 points against Marian in the first half on 7-of-9 shooting and added five rebounds, six assists and just one turnover. He was 5-of-7 from three. Against Baylor, he was arguably more impressive playing against the length and athleticism that the Bears had on the perimeter. He had 18 points on 7-of-15 from the floor and added six rebounds and five assists. It included a go-ahead mid-range jumper with 45 seconds.

He transfers in from West Virginia where he averaged 14.9 points and shot 47.3 percent from three in just eight games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.

Below is the full release from Indiana.

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the preseason watchlist for the 2026 Julius Erving Award, including Indiana redshirt senior forward Tucker DeVries, on Wednesday.

Named after the Class of 1993 Hall of Famer and 17-year professional basketball player, the Julius Erving Award 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.

DeVries, a two-time Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year, has tallied 1,986 points, 626 rebounds, 283 assists, and 139 steals in 112 games during his four-year career. He holds career averages of 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. 

The two-time transfer has 101 career double-figure scoring games and has posted at least 20 points in 41 contests. He has won 75.0% (84-28) of games in which he has played. In his each of his three healthy seasons of college ball, DeVries scored at least 500 points and made at least 75 3-point field goals.

The Indiana Hoosiers will open the season at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Nov. 5, against Alabama A&M at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. 

JULIUS ERVING SMALL FORWARD OF THE YEAR AWARD PRESEASON CANDIDATES*

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

*Players can play their way onto and off the list at any point in the 2025-26 season

Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting starting Friday, October 31. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2026 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 Committee for the Julius Erving Award is composed of top men’s basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers. 

The winner of the 2026 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). 

Previous winners of the Julius Erving Award are Cooper Flagg, Duke (2025), 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).

For more information on the 2026 Julius Erving Award and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu and #ErvingAward on X and Instagram.

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