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UNC Basketball: Nassir Little named to Award Watch List

By Zack Pearson

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 16: The North Carolina Tar Heels Ram reacts to their 84-66 victory over the Lipscomb Bisons during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 16, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 16: The North Carolina Tar Heels Ram reacts to their 84-66 victory over the Lipscomb Bisons during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 16, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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UNC freshman Nassir Little was named to a preseason award watch list on Thursday, being one of 20 players on the list

Nassir Little was not only one of the best recruits at his position but he was one of the best in all of the entire 2019 recruiting class.

The five-star wing finished ranked No. 3 in the 247 Sports Composite Rankings after elevating his play in his senior year of high school and a few all-star game performances including being named the MVP of the McDonald’s All-American Game and Co-MVP of the Jordan Brand Classic.

Now he’s ready to bring his talents to the University of North Carolina as the highlight of the Tar Heels’ 2018 recruiting class that also features Coby White and Rechon Black.

With the season set to begin in early November, the award watch lists are starting to come out and a few UNC players are expected to be named to the preseason lists. On Thursday, the freshman Little was named to the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award preseason Watch List. 

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame named 20 players to the list, including Little, as the award recognizes the top small forward in Division I Basketball.

A national committee of basketball personnel from around the nation submitted their lists which were narrowed down to 20 ahead of the start of the season.

Joining Little on the list is Dylan Windler, Cam Reddish, Elijah Minnie, Rui Hachimura, Keldon Johnson, Sam Hauser, Aaron Wiggins, Caleb Martin, Louis King, Tres Tinkle, Lamar Stevens, Oshae Brissett, Admiral Schofield, Jordon Varnado, Kris Wilkes, De’Andre Hunter, Jaylen Hoard, Matisse Thybulle, and Robert Franks Jr.

The list will then be trimmed from 20 to 10 in Mid-February before five finalists will be named in early March. The winner of the award will be announced at the on Friday, April 12 at the College Basketball Awards presented by Wendy’s in Los Angeles along with the other five Naismith starting lineup winners.

The award is in its fifth year with previous being Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, Denzel Valentine and Stanley Johnson.

Little is expected to make an impact right away at UNC and there’s a possibility he will be a staple in the starting lineup for the Tar Heels. The freshman will very likely be a one-and-done player for the Tar Heels as he’s projected to be a lottery pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Next. Luke Maye named ACC Preseason Player of the Year. dark

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