Texas Tech University Athletics
Watts selected to Erving Award Watch List
October 29, 2025 | Men's Basketball
LUBBOCK – Texas Tech redshirt junior LeJuan Watts has been recognized as one of the 20 players for the Naismith Starting 5 - Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Preseason Watch List. The annual Julius Erving Award, named after the Class of 1993 Hall of Famer and 17-year professional basketball player, celebrates its 12th year by recognizing the top small forwards in college basketball.
Watts, who was named the Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year last week, is entering his first season with the Red Raiders after transferring in April from Washington State where he averaged 13.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. He began his collegiate career at Eastern Washington, redshirting his first season before averaging 9.4 points and 4.9 rebounds in a season where he earned Big Sky Freshman of the Year honors. Last season, Watts secured All-WAC Honorable Mention and ranked in the conference's top 15 in scoring, rebounding and assists. He recorded nine double-doubles and also had a triple-double with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists against Santa Clara. A career-high 24 points came against San Francisco where he also added 12 rebounds and five assists. Watts had a career-high 14 rebounds against Idaho and finished the season scoring in double figures in 26 of 34 games played.
A Fresno, California native, he comes into his third season on the court with 768 points, 385 rebounds and 203 assists in his career.
Along with Watts, candidates on the Erving Award Watch List are: Karter Knox (Arkansas), Tounde Yessoufou (Baylor), AJ Dybantsa (BYU), Dame Sarr (Duke), Derrion Reid (Oklahoma), Isiah Harwell (Houston), Andrej Stojakovic (Illinois), Tucker DeVries (Indiana), Milan Momcilovic (Iowa State), Coen Carr (Michigan State), Darrion Williams (NC State), Devin Royal (Ohio State), Fletcher Loyer (Purdue), Miles Byrd (San Diego State), Nate Ament (Tennessee), Dailyn Swain (Texas), Eric Dailey (UCLA), Braylon Mullins (UConn) and Chad Baker-Mazara (USC). Players can play their way onto and off the list at any point throughout the season.
Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting starting Friday. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2026 Julius Erving Award will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February, to just five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Erving and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where the winner will be selected. The Selection Committee for the Julius Erving Award is composed of top men's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers. The winner of the 2026 Erving Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy Award (Point Guard), Jerry West Award (Shooting Guard), Karl Malone Award (Power Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center).
Previous winners of the Julius Erving Award are Cooper Flagg, Duke (2025), Dalton Knecht, Tennessee (2024), Jalen Wilson, Kansas (2023), Wendell Moore Jr., Duke (2022), Corey Kispert, Gonzaga (2021), Saddiq Bey, Villanova (2020), Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga (2019), Mikal Bridges, Villanova (2018), Josh Hart, Villanova (2017), Denzel Valentine, Michigan State (2016), and Stanley Johnson, Arizona (2015).
For more information on the 2025 Julius Erving Award and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu, #ErvingAward, and #MillerAward on X and Instagram.
Follow the Red Raiders: Keep up with Texas Tech men's basketball news at TexasTech.com and at the team's social media on Instagram, X and Facebook.
