Auburn forward Chad Baker-Mazara has been named to the ‘Julis Erving Award’ watch list ahead of the 2024-2025 season. The award, which recognizes the best small forward in college basketball, has never been won by a Tiger.
The committee named 20 college basketball small forwards to its preseason watch list on Wednesday. Baker-Mazara, along with Texas forward Arthur Kaluma, Missouri transfer Mark Mitchell, and Kentucky graduate transfer Jaxson Robinson, make up the four players representing the SEC on the watch list. Duke freshman phenom and likely first overall NBA Draftee Cooper Flagg was also tabbed in the exclusive list of 20 players.
Now a senior, Baker-Mazara is coming off a terrific opening season on the Plains. The 24-year-old was one of three Tigers to average double-digit points (10.0), and he finished among the team leaders in assists, blocks, and steals. Baker-Mazara’s 1.5 blocks and steals per game was second on the team, behind only superstar Johni Broome.
The Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native is primed for an even bigger role in head coach Bruce Pearl’s rotation this season. With Auburn’s second leading scorer from a year ago, Jaylin Williams, now fighting for a roster spot in the NBA, Baker-Mazara should see an increased role on the offensive end of the floor. If he can continue filling the stat-sheet while turning those new opportunities into buckets, the senior should finish among the finalists for the ‘Julis Erving Award’.
Baker-Mazara will surely have bigger things on his mind when the Tigers open up the season, especially after his junior year ended prematurely due to an NCAA Tournament ejection. Auburn’s quest to make a deep run into March begins on Wednesday, November 6 at Neville Arena against Vermont.
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