SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today that UIC sophomore Dikembe Dixson has been named to the 20-member watch list for the 2017 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award. Named after Hall of Famer and 11-time NBA All-Star Julius Erving, the annual honor in its third year recognizes the top small forwards in Division I men's basketball.
 
Dixson was unanimously named the Horizon League Freshman of the Year in 2016 while also capturing All-League honors. He set the conference's scoring record for a first-year player by pouring in 594 points. The Freeport, Ill., native ranked third in the Horizon League in scoring with 19.8 points per game. In contests against conference foes, Dixson's average jumped to 23.3 points per night, tying him for first among all League scorers. He also contributed on the glass with a team-high 7.3 rebounds per night, and his seven double-doubles ranked seventh in the Horizon League a year ago.
 
Earlier this month, Dixson was one of five players chosen for the Preseason All-Horizon League First Team. He was one of two Flames to start all 30 games during the 2016-17 season, and he scored in double figures in 26 of those tilts. Dixson also established UIC single-season records in free-throws made (169) and free-throw attempts (256). He set another conference record by winning Freshman of the Week plaudits nine times.
 
Of the 20 candidates announced Wednesday, including Dixson, only six are underclassmen. From that group, two do not play for Power 5 conference programs: Wichita State's Markis McDuffie and Dixson. UIC's second-year standout was the only player in the Horizon League to be named to the Erving Award watch list Wednesday.
 
Erving attended the University of Massachusetts and averaged 26.3 points and 20.2 rebounds per game, making him one of only six NCAA men's basketball players to average more than 20 points and 20 rebounds per game. During his professional career, Erving won three championships, four most valuable player awards and three scoring titles. In 1996, he was named a member of the NBA's 50^th Anniversary All-Time Team.

"I'm excited to be a part of this process as we set out to identify the top small forward in the college game this year," said Erving, a 1993 inductee of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. "These student-athletes have worked tirelessly to earn their places on this elite watch list and I know they will continue to improve throughout the season. It's anyone's award to be earned."

"Julius Erving is unquestionably one of the most respected and gifted athletes to ever play the game of basketball," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame.  "Before he was the professional super star known as Dr. J, he was an outstanding small forward at UMass. The young men on this watch list have shown glimpses of Mr. Erving's skillset and we look forward to watching them develop this season."

By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2017 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Erving and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The winner of the 2017 Julius Erving Award will be presented at the ESPN College Basketball Awards in Los Angeles, Calif., April 7, 2017.

Season tickets are on sale now to catch Dixson and the rest of the Flames in action at the UIC Pavilion this winter. Head coach Steve McClain's squad, which features six returning lettermen and what many consider to be the top recruiting class in the Horizon League, will play 17 times in front of the home crowd. The first chance to see UIC in action will be in an exhibition game on Saturday, Nov. 5. The home opener is slated for Nov. 16 against UTSA at 7 p.m. For more information, or to purchase your seats today, visit the UIC Ticket Office or call Nate Downing at 312-413-UIC1 (8421).
 
2017 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award Candidates:
 

Evan Bradds	Belmont
Kelan Martin	Butler
Jaron Blossomgame	Clemson
Terry Larrier	Connecticut
Jayson Tatum	Duke
Dwayne Bacon	Florida St.
OG Anunoby	Indiana
Deng Adel	Louisville
Justin Jackson	North Carolina
VJ Beachem	Notre Dame
Jae'Sean Tate	Ohio St.
Dillon Brooks	Oregon
Tres Tinkle	Oregon St.
Vince Edwards	Purdue
Dikembe Dixson	UIC
Kevin Hervey	UT Arlington
Jalen Moore	Utah St.
Josh Hart	Villanova
Markis McDuffie	Wichita St.
Trevon Bluiett	Xavier

   
*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2016-17 season*
 
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was invented, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level – professional, collegiate and high school, for both men and women on the global stage.