Blue Devils’ Brandon Ingram named Julius Erving Award finalist

Blue Devils’ Ingram named award finalist

Duke freshman Brandon Ingram has been selected as one of 10 finalists for the Julius Erving Award, as announced Wednesday by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The annual honor recognizes the top small forward in Division I men’s college basketball.

In March, five finalists will be presented to Julius Erving and the Hall of Fame selection committee, with a winner’s presentation taking place during the ESPN College Basketball Awards Show held at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, Calif., Friday, April 8.

Ingram leads the Blue Devils in steals (28) and ranks second among Duke players in points per game (17.0), blocks (35), three point field goal percentage (.411) and rebounds per game (6.5). Ingram became the ninth freshman in program history to record eight-or-more 20-point games this year, while also ranking as the only freshman in the conference to record two 20/10 games this season. Ingram has contributed five double-doubles, the most of any freshman in the conference. Ingram is also putting up stellar defensive numbers, registering eight games with two or more blocks and nine games with more than one steal. Ingram’s 1.6 bpg. currently ranks eighth in the conference and second among freshman in the ACC.

UNC: Malaika Underwood, a four-year standout on the Tar Heels’ volleyball team from 1999-2002, was named the USA Baseball Sportswoman of the Year after leading the U.S. Women’s Baseball National Team to the gold medal at the 2015 Pan American Games last summer.

UNC: Shortstop Kristen Brown was named to the Top 50 watch list for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, as announced by the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) and USA Softball.

ECU: An emphasis on adding size, weight and personnel on both lines of scrimmage, replenishing a defensive backfield and the enhancement of relationships inside the state of North Carolina were first-year coach Scottie Montgomery’s top priorities as the Pirates announced their 22-member 2016 signing class.

Wake Forest: Dave Clawson and his staff announced the addition of 22 newcomers to the Demon Deacon team. Their signing class includes nine players on defense, 12 on offense with one specialist. The 22 players come from nine different states.

Elon: In his third recruiting class, Coach Rich Skrosky continued his promise to recruit close to home as 11 of the program’s 22 signees hail from North Carolina. Of the 22, two have already enrolled at the college.

Duke: Sophomore saber Peter Yang was named the ACC Male Fencer of the Week.

Duke: Redshirt freshman Zach Finesilver was named the Ronald McDonald House Charities Duke Student-Athlete of the Week following a pair of victories that helped the Blue Devils to a 2-0 weekend in the nation’s capital. Finesilver totaled seven points overall in the two matches.

From news releases

This story was originally published February 3, 2016 at 6:59 PM with the headline "Blue Devils’ Brandon Ingram named Julius Erving Award finalist."