(From Illinois Sports Information Office)

(Cover photo courtesy player's Instagram page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced Wednesday that Fighting Illini junior Andrej Stojakovic is one of 20 watch-list candidates for the 2026 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 sixth-leading scorer in the ACC last year during his sophomore season at Cal, averaging 17.9 points. In addition to his scoring, he also averaged 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists and led Cal in blocks with an average of 1.2 bpg. Stojakovic scored in double figures in 25 of 29 games with 13 performances of 20+ points. He earned a spot on the ACC All-Tournament First Team, averaging 33 points on 57% shooting in a pair of postseason contests. Stojakovic erupted for a career-high 37 points vs. Stanford after opening the tournament with 29 points in a win over Virginia Tech.

2026 Julius Erving Award Candidates*
Karter Knox, Arkansas
Tounde Yessoufou, Baylor
AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Dame Sarr, Duke
Derrion Reid, Oklahoma
Isiah Harwell, Houston
Andrej Stojakovic, Illinois
Tucker DeVries, Indiana
Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State
Coen Carr, Michigan State
Darrion Williams, N.C. State
Devin Royal, Ohio State
Fletcher Loyer, Purdue
Miles Byrd, San Diego State
Nate Ament, Tennessee
Dailyn Swain, Texas
LeJuan Watts, Texas Tech
Eric Daily 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.

In partnership with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), 20 watch-list candidates for the 2026 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 31. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2026 Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February, to just five. In 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 winner of the 2026 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 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 (2024-25), 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 2026 Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu, #ErvingAward, and #MillerAward on X and Instagram.