Baylor MBB’s Bridges Named to Julius Erving Award Preseason Watch List

[Roberts, Matt]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – Oct. 25, 2023

Baylor MBB’s Bridges Named to Julius Erving Award Preseason Watch List
The BU forward is one of three Big 12 Players to make the list
For more information contact: Matt Roberts, 254-227-2280, WM_Roberts at Baylor.edu<mailto:WM_Roberts at Baylor.edu>

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Baylor men's basketball forward Jalen Bridges was named to the 2024 Julius Erving Award Watch list, announced Wednesday by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

The annual award recognizes the best small forward in Division I men's basketball. Players can be added to the watch list throughout the season. In 2022, Baylor forward Kendall Brown was selected to the Erving Award Top-10, after not originally being selected to the preseason Top-20. The list will be trimmed to 10 candidates in late January, with five finalists announced in late March.

The winner of this award, as well as presentation details, will be announced towards the end of the season at the Final Four in Phoenix.

Bridges is Baylor's lone returning starter from last year's squad, which amassed a 23-11 (11-7) record. The senior from Fairmont, W.Va., made an instant impact as one of two players to start all 34 games for the Bears a season ago, while leading the team in rebounds (192) and blocks (35). The senior caught fire in the Big 12 Championship quarterfinals last season, scoring a career-high 28 points on 10-of-11 shooting, including a Big 12 Championship record .875 (7-for-8) from three-point range.

The transfer from West Virginia is one of three Big 12 Conference players on the Julius Erving Award watch list, joining Kansas' Johnny Furphy and Kansas State’s Arthur Kaluma. Additionally, the Bears could see two more candidates in Duke’s Mark Mitchell and Michigan State’s Coen Carr during the regular season.

Additional players on the watch list include Gonzaga’s Anton Watson, Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman, Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht, Marquette’s David Joplin, Weber State’s Dillon Jones, St. Johns’ Glenn Taylor Jr., North Carolina’s Harrison Ingram, Ohio State’s Jamison Battle, Cal’s Jaylon Tyson, Kentucky’s Justin Edwards, Miami’s Matthew Cleveland, Iowa’s Payton Sandfort, Drake’s Tucker DeVries, Villanova’s Tyler Burton and Wisconsin’s Tyler Wahl.
—BaylorBears.com—
2023-24 SEASON AWARDS
Jalen Bridges
Preseason All-Big 12 (Honorable Mention)
Julius Erving Award Preseason Top-20

RayJ Dennis
Preseason All-Big 12 (Honorable Mention)

Ja’Kobe Walter
Preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year
Preseason All-Big 12 (Honorable Mention)
Jerry West Award Preseason Top-20




Matt Roberts | Associate Director of Athletic Communications (MBB/MGOLF/ WGOLF)
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
C: 254-227-2280
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