Keldon Johnson named Julius Erving Award finalist

Kentucky small forward Keldon Johnson has been named one of 10 finalists for the 2019 Julius Erving Award, an honor given annually to the nation's top small forward by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Johnson, who is leading the Wildcats with 14 points per game on 48.6 percent shooting and 41 percent from three, is just one of two Southeastern Conference players on the list, with the other being Tennessee's Admiral Schofield. Villanova's Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart, Michigan State's Denzel Valentine, and Arizona's Stanley Johnson are just a few of the past recipients of the award. The 6-foot-6 forward out of South Hill, Virginia, has led the Wildcats in points in a team-high-tying five games with 20 or more points and a team-high-tying 17 games in double figures. He has drilled 31 three-pointers (second on the team behind Tyler Herro) and averages 5.2 rebounds per game, good for third on the team. The 2019 Julius Erving Award will be presented at the ESPN College Basketball Awards Show in April, with Johnson looking to become the first Kentucky player to win since its inception in 2015. The five finalists will be revealed in March, with the winner being announced on April 12. [mobile_ad]