Keeping It Heel
Fansided

UNC Basketball: Joel Berry named to Oscar Robertson watch list

By Zack Pearson

CHAPEL HILL, NC- APRIL 4: Joel Berry II of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts to cheers during their welcome-home reception for the NCAA men's basketball team on April 4, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Tar Heels defeated the Gonzaga Bulldogs 71-65 yesterday to win the national championship. (Photo by Sara D. Davis/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC- APRIL 4: Joel Berry II of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts to cheers during their welcome-home reception for the NCAA men's basketball team on April 4, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Tar Heels defeated the Gonzaga Bulldogs 71-65 yesterday to win the national championship. (Photo by Sara D. Davis/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Joel Berry has been named to a big preseason award watch list on Monday

North Carolina senior guard Joel Berry has racked up the preseason accolades this year, as we approach the start of the college basketball season.

Berry has been named to some All-American teams as well as an award watch list in the past few weeks.

On Monday, he was left off the Associated Press’ Top 25 First Team All-America despite receiving 25 votes. But just a hour or so after, Berry was named to a pretty important watch list.

The Oscar Robertson Award Watch List was officially unveiled on Monday afternoon and Berry was one of 32 players named to the list released by the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA).

The award is given out annually by the USBWA to the national player of the year. Kansas’ Frank Mason won the award in 2017.

Berry is looking to become the fifth Tar Heel to win the award since they began handing it out in 1959.

The last UNC player to win it was Tyler Hansbrough in 2008.

If Berry is able to accomplish the feat, his number would be retired in the Dean Dome rafters as it’s one of the requirements set by UNC’s program.

Berry is one of eight players from the Atlantic Coast Conference to be named on the list joining Bonzie Colson, Deng Adel, Grayson Allen, Marvin Bagley, Bruce Brown, Wendell Carter Jr. and Trevon Duval.

The USBWA National Player of the Week will also be awarded beginning Dec. 12 and a 2017-18 All-American Team will be announced in Mid-March. The USBWA will also announce the finalists for the Oscar Robertson Award at that time.

Berry returns to UNC for his senior season after averaging 14.4 points, 3.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game.

He was named the 2017 Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player after helping UNC capture their sixth national championship.

After suffering a broken hand, Berry is expected to miss at least the first two games of the 2017-18 season for the Tar Heels.

Next: Joel Berry season preview

Check back for more on Berry and the Tar Heels as they prepare to open up the season against Northern Iowa on Friday.

Home/UNC Basketball