KU’s Jalen Wilson wins 2023 Julius Erving Award as nation’s top small forward

By Journal-World Staff Report     Apr 1, 2023

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Kansas forward Jalen Wilson (10) celebrates before the crown after the Jayhawks finished off Iowa State 62-60 in a thriller on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023 at Allen Fieldhouse.

His goal was to be playing for a trophy this weekend, but even with the Jayhawks eliminated from the NCAA Tournament two weeks ago, Kansas junior Jalen Wilson still found a way to pick up some hardware.

As part of The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s “Starting Five Saturday,” Wilson was named this year’s winner of the Julius Erving Award, given annually to the top small forward in Division I basketball, at a ceremony in Houston.

“I am very honored to receive this award,” Wilson said in a release announcing the honor. “Julius Erving is one of the greatest players of all time. I want to congratulate the other finalists on having great seasons. I want to thank (KU) coach (Bill) Self and the other coaches (for) helping me become the player I am today. More importantly, I want to thank my teammates, my brothers, who pushed me every day. Though we did not achieve our ultimate goal, we did have a great season, winning the Big 12 in the toughest conference in the nation. Playing at Kansas is a blessing and winning this award represents KU as much as me.”

Named after Class of 1993 Hall of Famer and 16-year professional basketball player Julius Erving — aka Dr. J — the annual honor is in its ninth year. Wilson was on the Julius Erving Award watch lists since the beginning of the season and was one of five finalists along with Brandon Miller (Alabama), Julian Strawther (Gonzaga), Keyontae Johnson (Kansas State) and Jaime Jaquez Jr. (UCLA).

In addition to Saturday’s honor, the KU All-American was one of four finalists for the Naismith Trophy and one of five Wooden Award finalists.

The unanimous Big 12 Player of the Year and first team all-Big 12 selection, Wilson led the Big 12 in scoring at 20.1 points per game, rebounds at 8.3 and double-doubles with 12. The Denton, Texas, forward posted three 30-point performances during the 2022-23 season and had 22 games of 20 or more points scored this season, including the final seven games of the season. Wilson is the seventh player in Big 12 history — and fourth Jayhawk — to lead the league in scoring and rebounding in the same season.

On nearly every national player of the year watch list, Wilson is just the 10th player in Kansas men’s basketball history to record 1,400-plus career points and 800-plus career rebounds and the first since Perry Ellis (2013-16). Wilson’s 1,475 points rank 27th on the KU career list and his 802 rebounds are 14th in school history. Wilson’s 28 career double-doubles are ninth on the KU all-time list.

The other Starting Five awards presented on Saturday went to Kansas State’s Markquis Nowell (Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year), Houston’s Marcus Sasser (Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year), Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis (Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year) and Purdue’s Zach Edey (Center of the Year).

Jalen Wilson 2022-23 Honors

Consensus All-America First Team

Julius Erving Award Recipient

Wooden Award Finalist (1 of 5)

Wooden Award All-American

Naismith Trophy Finalist (1 of 4)

USBWA All-America First Team

NABC All-America First Team

Associated Press All-America First Team

USBWA All-District VI Player of the Year

USBWA All-District VI Team

NABC All-District 8 First Team

Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team

The Sporting News All-America First Team

Big 12 Player of the Year (unanimous selection)

All-Big 12 First Team (unanimous selection)

Oscar Robertson Trophy Late Season Watch List (1 of 15)

Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List (1 of 50)

Big 12 Player of the Week (12.5.22)

Battle 4 Atlantis All-Tournament Team

Preseason All-Big 12

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106538KU’s Jalen Wilson wins 2023 Julius Erving Award as nation’s top small forward