SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Gonzaga's
Killian Tillie was named one of 20 candidates for the 2020 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award Thursday.
Named after Class of 2010 Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Karl Malone, the annual honor in its sixth year recognizes the top power forwards in Division I men's college basketball. A national committee comprising top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates in October, which has now been narrowed to just 10.
Tillie was recently named Preseason All-WCC for the second straight season. He was a preseason All-West Coast Conference selection before missing 22 games with injuries last season. In 15 appearances, he averaged 6.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. The Cagnes-sur-Mer, France native, made 10 blocks and had 10 steals in 2018-19. He made 50 percent of his shots from the field, including 43.8 percent (14-of-32) from three-point range. Tillie was tabbed Second Team All-WCC following the 2017-18 season. He averaged 12.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game in his sophomore season.
Malone attended Louisiana Tech University due to its close 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).
In March, five finalists will be presented to Mr. Malone and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The winner of the 2019 Karl Malone Award will be presented at The College Basketball Awards presented by Wendy's in Los Angeles on April 10, along with the other four members of the Naismith Starting 5. Additional awards being presented and receiving support from Eaton Ephesus Lighting include the Bob Cousy Point Guard Award, the Jerry West Shooting Guard Award, the Julius Erving Small Forward Award and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center Award. Broadcast information will be released by ESPN at a later date.
Previous winners of the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award include Zion Williamson, Duke (2019), Deandre Ayton, Arizona (2018), Johnathan Motley, Baylor (2017), Georges Niang, Iowa State (2016) and Montrezl Harrell, Louisville (2015).
Wednesday, Tillie's teammate
Corey Kispert was named to the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year watch list. GU is one of three schools to have a player on both the Karl Malone and Julius Erving watch lists.
Gonzaga has an exhibition against Lewis-Clark State on Nov. 1. The first regular season game kicks off three consecutive home games and is on Nov. 5, against Alabama State.
2020 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award Candidates
| Tristan Clark |
Baylor |
|
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| Yoeli Childs |
BYU |
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| Lamine Diane |
CSUN |
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| Obi Toppin |
Dayton |
|
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| Killian Tillie |
Gonzaga |
|
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| EJ Montgomery |
Kentucky |
|
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| Trendon Watford |
LSU |
|
|
| Jalen Smith |
Maryland |
|
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| Xavier Tilman |
Michigan State |
|
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| Reggie Perry |
Mississippi State |
|
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| Garrison Brooks |
North Carolina |
|
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| John Mooney |
Notre Dame |
|
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| Kaleb Wesson |
Ohio State |
|
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| Brady Manek |
Oklahoma |
|
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| Lamar Stevens |
Penn State |
|
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| Trevion Williams |
Purdue |
|
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| Isaiah Mobley |
USC |
|
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| Alexis Yetna |
USF |
|
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| Mamadi Diakite |
Virginia |
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| Tyrique Jones |
Xavier |
|
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*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2019-20 season*
