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Arizona Basketball: Josh Green among the top small forwards this season

By David Rosen

FORT MYERS, FL - DECEMBER 21: Josh Green #0 of IMG Academy is introduced prior to the game against University School during the City Of Palms Classic at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on December 21, 2018 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
FORT MYERS, FL - DECEMBER 21: Josh Green #0 of IMG Academy is introduced prior to the game against University School during the City Of Palms Classic at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on December 21, 2018 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Arizona Basketball freshman Josh Green was named among the Top 20 small forwards in college basketball, being named to the Julius Erving Award Preseason Watch List.

The 2019-20 Arizona Basketball team has a completely whole new look and one of those additions being Australian freshman Josh Green. Unlike Nico Mannion who didn’t make the Bob Cousy pre-season Top 20 watchlist, Green made the Julius Erving Award Watch List. This award is given to the top small forward in college basketball.

Before I go any further, how Mannion, one of the best point guards in the country, not making the Top 20 list has to be addressed. Simply baffling. Yes, this list can change over the course of the season but it makes no sense how he isn’t on the list now. Nothing to take away from the other who made the list, but Mannion is likely going to be a lottery pick, yet not on the list. How?

The Julius Erving Award has only been given out since 2015, but Arizona Basketball does have an award winner, Stanley Johnson. He won it 2015 as a freshman, maybe Green can do the same. He has the skillset at the small forward position to do so.

The Pac-12 does have three others making up the pre-season Top 20 watch list, Tres Tinkle, Jaden McDaniels, and CJ Elleby. Great to see the conference representing in a list made up of some highly talented players. This season the conference is stacked with talent and there will be no gimmes, every team will have to earn their wins.

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Much of the talk has been  around Mannion, but don’t sleep on Green as he is going to be one the keys to the Wildcats success this season. During the Red and Blue game, he showed that he can compete on both ends of the floor, especially on defense.

On the offense side of things, Green can shoot the ball from all ranges, making him a versatile small forward. Like Mannion, Green will likely be a starter and expected to make an immediate impact.

That is a lot of pressure for a freshman to handle, but playing for IMG Academy, Green knows what it takes to be successful and compete at a high level each and every game. He even helped IMG Academy to their first-ever National High School Basketball Championship this past season.

Want to get to know one the top freshman in college basketball a little more, here ya go!

Must Read. Arizona Basketball: Why Arizona will return to their dominance against ASU. light

At Zona Zealots, we would like to congratulate Josh Green on making the Julius Erving Award Preseason Top 20 Watch List. Once the season starts, Green will soon prove why he is one of the best small forwards in college basketball. As always, Bear Down, Arizona!

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