Billy Richmond III Named to Julius Erving Award Watch List

Billy Richmond III Named to Julius Erving Award Watch List

by

Billy Richmond III has been named to the 2027 Julius Erving Award preseason watch list, according to a report from the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the list on October 28, 2026, identifying Richmond as one of 20 candidates for the honor that recognizes the top small forward in NCAA Division I men’s college basketball.

This recognition places the preseason All-SEC selection among an elite group of wings across the country.

Elite metrics and the 1,000-point chase

The Julius Erving Award is named after the Hall of Fame legend and 17-year pro, and the criteria typically favor players who combine scoring with high-level athleticism. Richmond has already proven the physical side of that equation. During his appearance at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine, Richmond recorded a lane agility drill time of 10.23 seconds—the fastest in the field. He also tied with Darius Acuff Jr. for the best 3/4 court sprint time at 3.06 seconds.

The industry is taking notice beyond the Hall of Fame. Andy Katz recently ranked Richmond as the ninth-most impactful junior in the nation, a metric that weighs a player’s contribution to winning over raw box-score statistics. This aligns with Richmond’s previous accolades, including a spot on the SEC All-Defensive Team and a selection to College Hoops Today’s All-Glue Team, which honors players whose contributions are essential but often overlooked by traditional stats.

A concentrated surge of talent in Fayetteville

Richmond isn’t the only Razorback appearing on the Naismith Starting 5 Awards watch lists. The program has managed to plant flags at three different primary positions, signaling a balanced roster depth heading into the 2026-27 campaign.

Arkansas guard billy richmond iii celebrates with fans after defeating louisville during an ncaa college basketball game wedn
Player Award Watch List Position Focus
Jordan Smith Jr. Bob Cousy Award Point Guard
Jeremiah Wilkinson Jerry West Award Shooting Guard
Billy Richmond III Julius Erving Award Small Forward

The national competition

The road to the Julius Erving Award is crowded. Richmond is competing against a field of 20 candidates that includes high-profile names from across the Power 4 conferences. The list features players such as Tyran Stokes from Kansas, Milan Momcilovic from Kentucky, and Andrej Stojakovic from Illinois.

The diversity of the list—stretching from Duke’s Dame Sarr to UConn’s Colben Landrew—highlights the current state of the small forward position.

Related reading

Read next