A decade after Denzel Valentine brought the Julius Erving Award back to East Lansing, another Spartan is making a serious case to follow in his footsteps. Coen Carr, Michigan State’s high-flying small forward, has been named one of 10 mid-season finalists for the prestigious honor, which recognizes the top small forward in college basketball each year.
For Carr, this recognition is more than just a nod to his athleticism-though, let’s be honest, his above-the-rim highlights are still appointment viewing. This season, he's transformed from a role player with raw tools into a full-time starter who’s producing across the board.
He’s averaging 11.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game-career highs in every category-and he's doing it while wearing the captain’s “C” for a Michigan State team that’s currently 20-4 and sitting at No. 10 in the national rankings. That ranking got a serious boost after the Spartans knocked off then-No.
5 Illinois in a statement win on Saturday.
Carr’s inclusion on the Julius Erving Award watch list puts him in elite company. He’s joined by Baylor’s Tounde Yessoufou, BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, Florida’s Thomas Haugh, Illinois’ Andrej Stojakovic, Iowa State’s Milan Momcilovic, Louisville’s Ryan Conwell, Tennessee’s Nate Ament, Texas’ Dailyn Swain, and USC’s Chad Baker-Mazara. It’s a group loaded with talent, but Carr’s all-around impact-on both ends of the floor and in the locker room-gives him a legitimate shot to stand out.
It’s been a steady climb for Carr. As a freshman, he was mostly known for his highlight-reel dunks, playing just 11.6 minutes per game off the bench.
But he didn’t let that define him. He went to work on his game, smoothing out his footwork, tightening his handle, and improving his defensive awareness.
By his sophomore season, he had carved out a key role on a Spartan squad that won the Big Ten and reached the Elite 8. Now, as a junior, he’s one of the team’s emotional and statistical leaders, and Michigan State is leaning on him to help guide the program toward a second straight conference title.
Carr isn’t the only Spartan getting national recognition, either. Point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. has landed on the 10-player mid-season watch list for the Bob Cousy Award, which honors the nation’s top point guard. While Michigan State has never had a player win that award, Fears’ leadership and floor vision have made him a vital cog in the Spartans’ backcourt.
Of course, the Julius Erving Award carries a special weight in East Lansing. Valentine’s senior season-where he averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.8 assists-set the standard for what a do-it-all wing can look like in Tom Izzo’s system. Carr’s numbers aren’t as gaudy, but his evolution into a complete player and team leader mirrors that same trajectory.
Michigan State now has a full week to prepare for its next test: a Friday night road matchup against Wisconsin. It’s a chance for Carr to further cement his case on a national stage-and for the Spartans to keep building momentum as March creeps closer.