Tyler Wahl Named to the Julius Erving Preseason Award Watchlist

Wisconsin basketball super-senior forward Tyler Wahl has once again earned a spot on the prestigious preseason watchlist for the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award. 

This recognition, bestowed by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, highlights the top small forwards in Division I men’s college basketball. Named after the legendary Hall of Famer and 16-year professional basketball player Julius Erving, this award is now in its tenth year.

Wisconsin Basketball Forward Tyler Wahl Receives Prestigious Honor

Tyler Wahl is one of just twenty players in the country to make the list, and it’s his second consecutive appearance on the preseason watchlist for the Julius Erving Award.

In the past, Wisconsin basketball has had only two other preseason candidates for this award—Nigel Hayes in 2016 and Sam Dekker in 2015. Both Hayes and Dekker later became finalists for the prestigious honor in their respective seasons.

As the season unfolds, the Julius Erving Award preseason watchlist will be narrowed down to ten players in late January, with the final five award finalists to be announced in late March.

Wahl, a two-time Big Ten champion, has grown into one of the most versatile players in college basketball — and is considered a Swiss Army knife by many.

With an impressive track record of 126 games played (85 as a starter), Wahl is on the brink of becoming the eighth player in program history to achieve 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, and 200 assists, just 32 points away from this remarkable milestone.

The native of Lakeville, Minnesota, displayed an all-around skill set last season, ranking second on the Wisconsin basketball team in rebounds (6.3 rpg), third in assists (2.3 apg), third in steals (1.2 spg), and fourth in scoring (11.3 ppg). 

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