Watch list revealed for 2022 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award
The Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award is awarded annually by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to the athlete judged to be the top men’s collegiate center.
Arguably the greatest player to ever step foot on a basketball court, being mentioned in the same sentence as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a gigantic honor for any player. Since the award was introduced in 2015, the best of the best have been recognized for their skillset.
Moreover, Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky won the first iteration of the award for the 2014-15 season. Then, Iowa’s Luka Garza became the first center to win two straight over the last two years. Now, a new athlete will look to add the award to their resume.
With tremendous options, here’s the watchlist for the 2022 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award.
Watch list for 2022 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award:
- Walker Kessler, Auburn Tigers
- Adama Sanogo, Connecticut Huskies
- Mark Williams, Duke Blue Devils
- Drew Timme, Gonzaga Bulldogs
- Kofi Cockburn, Illinois Fighting Illini
- Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky Wildcats
- Hunter Dickinson, Michigan Wolverines
- Armando Bacot, North Carolina Tar Heels
- Nate Watson, Providence Friars
- Zach Edey, Purdue Boilermakers
As you can see, there’s plenty of competition for this season’s award. On the No. 1 team in the country, Auburn’s Walker Kessler has proven worthy. For the Tigers, Kessler is averaging 11.5 points and 7.9 rebounds on the season.
Moreover, Gonzaga’s Drew Timme was the favorite for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award after his phenomenal performance throughout last season’s tournament. He’s carried that over into 2021-22 for the Bulldogs, averaging 17.9 points and six rebounds on the season.
Finally, Kentucky’s Osacr Tshiebwe has been a monster throughout the season in the SEC. The Wildcats star is averaging a ridiculous 15.2 rebounds per game, and also scoring at a clip of 16.1 points per game.
There are plenty of tremendous options for the 2022 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award. As the season progresses, it will be a pleasure to watch each athlete make their case over the next few months.