Northwest Notes: Feb. 9, 2023
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 2 years, 10 months AGO
Strawther Named to Erving Top 10 Watch List
Gonzaga's Julian Strawther was named one of the 10 candidates for the 2023 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Wednesday.
Named after Class of 1993 Hall of Famer and 16-year professional basketball player Julius Erving, the annual honor in its ninth year recognizes the top small forwards in Division I men’s college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates in November, which has now been narrowed to 10.
Strawther is the Zags’ second leading scorer averaging 14.4 points per game, which ranks 14th in the West Coast Conference. He’s shooting 47.6 percent from the field. The junior has made 52 three-pointers at 41.9 percent from behind-the-arc, which are 10th and eighth in the WCC. Strawther, a Las Vegas native, is also 10th in the league pulling down 6.8 rebounds per game.
Strawther racked up a career-high 40 points in Gonzaga’s 82-67 win at Portland. His previous career-high was 23 points was set in Portland earlier this season against Xavier with a then career-high five made threes. At Portland, the junior made 14 of his 21 shots from the field, including eight of 12 from behind-the-arc. His eight made threes were the most since Corey Kispert matched Dan Dickau and Kevin Pangos program record of nine against Virginia in the 2020-21 season.
Fans can support their favorite players in the remaining rounds by participating in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, starting Friday at hoophallawards.com.
Ejim a semifinalist for
mid-major award
Gonzaga junior forward Yvonne Ejim was named one of the 10 semifinalists for the 2023 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award presented by Her Hoop Stats. The Becky Hammon Award was first given out in 2020, with South Dakota's Ciara Duffy being named the inaugural winner. Florida Gulf Coast's Kierstan Bell won the award in 2021 and 2022.
Ejim currently leads the Zags in scoring with 16.9 points a game and has recorded four double doubles already this year. She has scored at least 20 points in seven games this season, including a career-high 32-point performance against Queens on Dec. 6.