October 28, 2026 | Men's Basketball
News
CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced Wednesday that Fighting Illini senior Andrej Stojakovic is one of 20 watch-list candidates for the 2027 Julius Erving Award.
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.
Stojakovic was the team's second-leading scorer in his first year as an Illini last season, averaging 13.5 points on 50% shooting (168-336). He scored in double figures 19 times with eight 20-point games, led by a season-high 30 points vs. Maryland (Jan. 21, 2026). Stojakovic also averaged 4.5 rebounds and made better than 80% from the free throw line (103-128). Stojakovic excelled during Illinois' run to the Final Four, averaging 13.8 points on 55.3% shooting over five NCAA Tournament games and earning a spot on the NCAA All-South Regional Team.
2027 Julius Erving Award Candidates*
Amari Allen, Alabama
Bruce Branch III, BYU
Coen Carr, Michigan State
Davis Fogle, Gonzaga
Amani Hansberry, Virginia Tech
Juke Harris, Tennessee
Thomas Haugh, Florida
Shelton Henderson, Miami
Ivan Kharchenkov, Arizona
Nikola Kusturica, UCLA
Colben Landrew, UConn
Milan Momcilovic, Kentucky
Billy Richmond III, Arkansas
Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska
Dame Sarr, Duke
Andrej Stojakovic, Illinois
Tyran Stokes, Kansas
Anthony Thompson, Ohio State
Aiden Tobiason, Syracuse
Tounde Yessoufou, St. John's
*Players can play their way onto and off the list at any point in the 2026-27 season.
In partnership with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), 20 watch-list candidates for the 2027 Cheryl Miller Award also were announced, honoring the top small forwards in NCAA Division I women's basketball.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in each of the three rounds starting on Friday, October 30. In February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2027 Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards will be narrowed to 10, then to five in March. In late March, the five finalists will be presented to Erving, Miller, and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committees for the Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards are composed of top men's and women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
The winners of the 2027 Erving and Miller Awards will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men's and Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy and Nancy Lieberman Awards (Point Guard), Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards (Shooting Guard), Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards (Power Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie Awards (Center).
Previous winners of the Julius Erving Award are AJ Dybantsa, BYU (2026), 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).
Previous winners of the Cheryl Miller Award are Madison Booker, Texas (2024-26), Ashley Joens, Iowa State (2021-23), Satou Sabally, Oregon (2020), Bridget Carleton, Iowa State (2019), and Gabby Williams, Connecticut (2018).
For more information on the 2027 Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu, #ErvingAward, and #MillerAward on X and Instagram.
