SPRINGFIELD, MASS. – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the 10 watch list finalists for the 2017 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award. Named after Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Karl Malone, the annual honor in its third year recognizes the top power forwards in Division I men’s college basketball. A national committee comprised of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates in October, which has now been narrowed to just 10.
“Karl Malone is recognized as a fierce competitor who delivered every time he set foot on the court, at both the collegiate and professional level,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “As we recognize and evaluate the best power forwards in the college game today, we will be looking for a player who displays these same qualities.”
Karl Malone attended Louisiana Tech University due to its proximity to his hometown of Summerfield, Louisiana. He led the Bulldogs to a Sweet 16 appearance and earned All-Southland honors in his three seasons while averaging 18.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Malone achieved great success during his 19 seasons in the NBA as a 14-time NBA All-Star (1988-98, 2000-02), 11-time All-NBA First Team player (1989-99) and a member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. He also won two Olympic gold medals (1992, 1996) and is a 2010 inductee of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
In March, five finalists will be presented to Mr. Malone and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee for the 2017 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award. The winner of the 2017 Karl Malone Award will be presented at ESPN’s College Basketball Awards, presented by Wendy’s, live from The Novo by Microsoft in downtown Los Angeles on Friday, April 7, 2017. Broadcast information will be released at a later date.
Previous winners of the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award include Georges Niang, Iowa State (2016) and Montrezl Harrell, Louisville (2015). For more information on the 2017 Karl Malone Award, log onto www.HoophallAwards.com.
2017 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award Finalists
|
Lauri Markkanen |
Arizona |
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Johnathan Motley |
Baylor |
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Ivan Rabb |
California |
|
Dedric Lawson |
Memphis |
|
Miles Bridges |
Michigan St. |
|
Bonzie Colson |
Notre Dame |
|
Michael Young |
Pittsburgh |
|
Caleb Swanigan |
Purdue |
|
TJ Leaf |
UCLA |
|
Alec Peters |
Valparaiso |
*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2016-17 season*
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.
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