10/29/2026 10:01:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Award goes to nation’s best collegiate power forward
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Gonzaga's Braden Huff was named to the Karl Malone Award Watch List. The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the 20 watch-list candidates Thursday.
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The annual Karl Malone Award, named after the Class of 2010 Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, celebrates its 13th year by recognizing the top power forward in NCAA Division I men's college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
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Huff, a 6-foot-10 forward, averaged 17.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in 18 appearances last season before his season was cut short by injury. The Glen Ellyn, Ill., native shot 66.2 percent from the field, totaling 320 points and 101 rebounds. He scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the exhibition at Arkansas on Oct. 24.
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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).
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Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting starting Oct. 30. In February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2027 Karl Malone Award will be narrowed to 10, then to five in March. In late March, the five finalists will be presented to Malone and the Hall of Fame's selection committee, where the winner will be selected. The selection committee for the Karl Malone Award is composed of top men's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
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The winner of the 2027 Karl Malone Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy Award (Point Guard), Jerry West Award (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving (Small Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center).
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Previous winners of the Karl Malone Award include Cameron Boozer, Duke (2026), Johni Broome, Auburn (2025), Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana (2023), Keegan Murray, Iowa (2022), Drew Timme, Gonzaga (2021), Obi Toppin, Dayton (2020), Zion Williamson, Duke (2019), Deandre Ayton, Arizona (2018), Georges Niang, Iowa State (2016), and Montrezl Harrell, Louisville (2015).
For more information on the 2027 Karl Malone Award and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu and #ErvingAward on X and Instagram.
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2026-27 Karl Malone Award Candidates*
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The annual Karl Malone Award, named after the Class of 2010 Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, celebrates its 13th year by recognizing the top power forward in NCAA Division I men's college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
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Huff, a 6-foot-10 forward, averaged 17.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in 18 appearances last season before his season was cut short by injury. The Glen Ellyn, Ill., native shot 66.2 percent from the field, totaling 320 points and 101 rebounds. He scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the exhibition at Arkansas on Oct. 24.
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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).
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Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting starting Oct. 30. In February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2027 Karl Malone Award will be narrowed to 10, then to five in March. In late March, the five finalists will be presented to Malone and the Hall of Fame's selection committee, where the winner will be selected. The selection committee for the Karl Malone Award is composed of top men's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
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The winner of the 2027 Karl Malone Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy Award (Point Guard), Jerry West Award (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving (Small Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center).
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Previous winners of the Karl Malone Award include Cameron Boozer, Duke (2026), Johni Broome, Auburn (2025), Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana (2023), Keegan Murray, Iowa (2022), Drew Timme, Gonzaga (2021), Obi Toppin, Dayton (2020), Zion Williamson, Duke (2019), Deandre Ayton, Arizona (2018), Georges Niang, Iowa State (2016), and Montrezl Harrell, Louisville (2015).
For more information on the 2027 Karl Malone Award and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu and #ErvingAward on X and Instagram.
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2026-27 Karl Malone Award Candidates*
| Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje | Duke |
| Alex Condon | Florida |
| Jaylen Crocker-Johnson | Minnesota |
| Keanu Dawes | Kansas |
| Thijs De Ridder | Virginia |
| Xavier Edmonds | TCU |
| J.P. Estrella | Michigan |
| Keyshawn Hall | St. John's |
| Na'jai Hines | UConn |
| Braden Huff | Gonzaga |
| Jaxon Kohler | BYU |
| David Mirkovic | Illinois |
| Paulius Murauskas | Arizona State |
| Miikka Muurinen | Arkansas |
| Caden Pierce | Purdue |
| David Punch | Texas |
| Malik Reneau | Miami |
| Aiden Sherrell | Indiana |
| JT Toppin | Texas Tech |
| Joseph Tugler | Houston |
Players Mentioned
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