North Carolina’s Justin Jackson and Duke’s Jayson Tatum are among the five players named Wednesday as finalists for the Julius Erving Award, symbolic of the top small forward in college basketball. Jackson, the ACC’s newly named Player of the Year, is averaging, is averaging 18.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting a career-best 38.5 percent from 3-point range heading into the postseason. Tatum, a third-team All-ACC and All-Rookie team selection, averages 16.3 points and 7.3 rebounds while his .870 free throw percentage would rank third in the league if he had enough attempts to qualify. The other finalists are Dillon Brooks of Oregon, Josh Hart of Villanova and Josh Jackson of Kansas. The winner of the Erving Award will be announced in April as part of a made-for-television awards show following the season. UNC’s Joel Berry was previously announced as a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award for point guards and Duke’s Luke Kennard is a finalist for the Jerry West Award for shooting guards.
