W&M's Knight Named Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Finalist
Bill Potter
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (March 6, 2020) – William & Mary senior
Nathan Knight was named one of five finalists for the 2020 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced on Friday. The accolade marks the second-straight season Knight has been one of five finalists for the award.
Named after Class of 1995 Hall of Famer, Pac-12 Player of the Century and three-time NCAA Champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the annual honor in its sixth year recognizes the top centers in men's college basketball.
Knight is one of only three players in college basketball to be among the five finalists for a Naismith Starting 5 award for the second consecutive season. Marquette's Markus Howard is a finalist for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year for the second year in a row, while BYU's Yoeli Childs is a finalist for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year again this season. Joining Knight among the Kareem Award finalists are Vernon Carey Jr. (Duke), Filip Petrusev (Gonzaga), Luka Garza (Iowa) and Udoka Azubuike (Kansas). The winner will be announced on April 12 at The College Basketball Awards presented by Wendy's along with the other four members of the Naismith Starting 5.
Earlier on Friday, Knight became just the second player in league history to be named the CAA Player and Defensive Player of the Year. He garnered a spot on the All-CAA First Team for the second year in a row and became just the 15
th player in league history to be named to the All-Defensive Team on three occasions. Knight is one of only two players nationally to ranked among the top 20 in both scoring (20th at 20.6 points per game) and rebounding (14th at 10.5 rebounds per game). He leads the country in player efficiency rating (34.9), while ranking second in double-doubles (22).
A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 student-athletes in October, which was narrowed to 10 candidates in February before the five finalists were announced. This month, the finalists will be presented to Mr. Abdul-Jabbar and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The winner of the 2020 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. Naismith Starting Five Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies will go live today, March 6 via hoophallawards.com.
"Since the inception of this award, the student-athletes we have recognized have been tremendous centers and young men of great character," said Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 1995. "I enjoy the process of learning more about our finalists as we observe their games and I look forward to bestowing this honor in April."
According to KenPom.com, Knight ranks seventh, among players with a 28% or higher usage, in offensive rating (114.2). He is also ninth nationally in win shares (6.1), sixth in defensive rebounds and free throws made (170), 12th in total points and 13th in total rebounds. Knight ranks among the CAA's career leaders in a number of categories including free throws made (seventh at 170), blocked shots (ninth at 219), scoring (13th at 2117) and rebounding (13th at 954).
Along with the Kareem Award, Knight has been honored nationally throughout the season. He was named one of 10 national finalists for the Senior CLASS Award, which recognizes excellence in community, classroom, character, and competition. He has been named to a number of national player of the year watch lists including the United States Basketball Writers Association Oscar Robertson Trophy, the Citizen Naismith Trophy Men's Player of the Year presented by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, the Luke Olson National Player of the Year and the Lou Henson Mid-Major National Player of the Year, both presented by CollegeInsider.com.
The winner of the 2020 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award will be presented at The College Basketball Awards presented by Wendy's in Los Angeles, CA on Friday, April 10, 2020, along with the other four members of the Naismith Starting Five. 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 Karl Malone Power Forward Award, in addition to the Women's Starting Five. Additional information about the telecast will be released by ESPN in the coming weeks.
Previous winners of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award include Ethan Happ, Wisconsin, (2019), Angel Delgado, Seton Hall (2018), Przemek Karnowski, Gonzaga (2017), Jakob Poeltl, Utah (2016) and Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin (2015).