Tar Heel Newcomer Named Preseason Award Candidate

Originally posted on FanNation All Tar Heels
By Matt Giles | Last updated 10/25/23

Harrison Ingram, a 6-foot-7, 235-pound former McDonald's All-American out of Dallas who transferred into the UNC basketball program from Stanford in the offseason following two productive campaigns with the Cardinal, is on the 20-deep preseason watch list for the 2024 Julius Erving Award.

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame revealed the candidates on Wednesday afternoon. In March, the honor will go to this season's premier Division I small forward; anyone may play their way onto or off the watch list throughout the year as it shrinks in size several times.

Ingram, 20, is one of three ACC forwards on the Julius Erving Award watch list, joining Duke basketball sophomore Mark Mitchell and Miami's transfer addition from Florida State in junior Matthew Cleveland.

After averaging 10.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists as the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, Harrison Ingram averaged 10.5 points, 4.8 boards, and 3.7 dimes as a Stanford sophomore. He shot 31.3 percent from deep in Year 1 and 31.9 percent last go-round.

Consistent.

Of the three position watch lists (point guard, shooting guard, small forward) that the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame has announced thus far this week, two include Tar Heels: Ingram and senior point guard RJ Davis.

That count should grow to three by the end of the week, as fifth-year center Armando Bacot has already landed preseason All-American honors. Undoubtedly, he is one of the nation's top 20 big men.

This article first appeared on FanNation All Tar Heels and was syndicated with permission.

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