Fan Voting to Open Today, March 11 on HoophallAwards.com
SPRINGFIELD, MASS. – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the five finalists for the 2016 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award. Named after Hall of Famer and three-time NCAA Champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the annual honor in its second year recognizes the top centers in Division I men’s college basketball. A committee comprised of top college basketball personnel narrowed the original watch list of 20 candidates down to 10 and now the final five.
“When it comes to collegiate centers, none have accomplished more than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “The finalists for this award should be very proud. The postseason play among these young men is sure to be something remarkable.”
The winner of the 2016 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award will be determined by a combination of fan votes and input from the Basketball Hall of Fame’s selection committee. Fans are encouraged to visit www.HoophallAwards.com to cast their votes March 11-25.
The winner of the 2016 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award will be awarded at ESPN’s College Basketball Awards presented by Wendy’s from Club Nokia in Los Angeles, CA on Friday, April 8, 2016. The Awards will be televised live on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. EST.
Last season, Frank Kaminsky of Wisconsin was named the inaugural winner of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award. For more information on the 2016 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, log onto www.HoophallAwards.com.
2016 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award Finalists
Domantas Sabonis, Gonzaga
Ben Bentil, Providence
A.J. Hammons, Purdue
Jakob Poeltl, Utah
Joel Bolomboy, Weber State
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was invented, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level – professional, collegiate and high school, for both men and women on the global stage.
For more information:
Visit us on the web: www.hoophall.com or www.hoophallawards.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BBHOF
Twitter/Instagram: @hoophall #KareemAward #CBBAwards
OR call 1-877-4-HOOPLA