Richmond on Julius Erving Award Preseason Watch List

October 28, 2026

Naismith Hoop Hall Awards Purchase Memphis Exhibition Tickets

FAYETTEVILLE – Preseason All-SEC selection Billy Richmond III is one of 20 candidates named to the 2027 Julius Erving Award watch list, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced today.

The annual Julius Erving Award, named after the Class of 1993 Hall of Famer and 17-year professional basketball player, celebrates its 13th year by recognizing the top small forward in NCAA Division I men’s college basketball.

Richmond participated in the 2026 NBA Draft Combine after being named to the SEC All-Defensive Team and to the College Hoops Today’s All-Glue Team. At the Combine, Richmond had the best lane agility drill time (10.23 seconds) and tied (Darius Acuff Jr.) for the best time in the 3/4 court sprint (3.06 seconds).

Richmond, the only Razorback to play in all 73 games of the John Calipari era, is on pace to break the 1,000-point barrier this season. In addition to being voted to the preseason All-SEC team, Richmond was named the ninth-most impactful junior in the nation by Andy Katz.

Razorbacks on other Naismith Starting 5 Awards Watch Lists:
Jordan Smith Jr. – Bob Cousy Award (Point Guard of the Year)
Jeremiah Wilkinson – Jerry West Award (Shooting Guard of the Year)
Billy Richmond III – Julius Erving Award (Small Forward of the Year)

Arkansas will play its second and final exhibition tonight (Oct. 28) versus the Memphis Tigers. Tipoff is set for 7 pm and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network+. The game is not part of the 2026-27 season ticket package and fans can PURCHASE TICKETS HERE.

2027 Julius Erving Award Candidates
Amari Allen, Alabama
Ivan Kharchenkov, Arizona
Billy Richmond III, Arkansas
Bruce Branch III, BYU
Dame Sarr, Duke
Thomas Haugh, Florida
Davis Fogle, Gonzaga
Andrej Stojakovic, Illinois
Tyran Stokes, Kansas
Milan Momcilovic, Kentucky
Shelton Henderson, Miami
Coen Carr, Michigan State
Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska
Anthony Thompson, Ohio State
Tounde Yessoufou, St. John’s
Aiden Tobiason, Syracuse
Juke Harris, Tennessee
Nikola Kusturica, UCLA
Colben Landrew, UConn
Amani Hansberry, Virginia Tech

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