LOGAN, Utah - No. 22 Utah State men's basketball junior wing
Great Osobor has been named one of the top five candidates for the 2024 Karl Malone Award, it was announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Thursday.
The annual Karl Malone Award, named after the Class of 2010 Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, celebrates its 10th year by recognizing the top power forwards in Division I men's college basketball.
Osobor is one of two candidates from the Mountain West, joining San Diego State's Jaedon LeDee. The remaining three candidates are Duke's Kyle Filipowski, Dayton's DaRon Holmes II and Arkon's Enrique Freeman.
The native of Bradford, England, ranks 24th in the nation in double-doubles (13), 34th in field goal percentage (.578), 49th in rebounds per game (8.93) and 50th in defensive rebounds per game (6.23).
Osobor's 8.93 rebounds per game and 57.8 field goal percentage rank second in the MW, while his 17.47 points per game are third. He is second in the league in defensive rebounds per game (6.23), fourth in offensive rebounds per game (2.70), fourth in blocks per game (1.43), 14th in free throw percentage (.642) and 15th in assists per game (2.90).
Osobor has scored in double figures 27 times this season, including 11 20-plus point outings and three 30-plus point outings. He has collected double-figure rebounds in 14 games and at least five boards in 25 games. Osobor has recorded multiple steals in 13 games, multiple blocks in 12 and a caree-best seven assists twice
Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, starting Friday, March 8, on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
Later this month, the finalists will be presented to Malone and McClain and the Hall of Fame's selection committees. The Selection Committees for the Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards are composed of top men's and women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
The winner of the 2024 Malone and McClain Awards will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men's and Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy and Nancy Lieberman Awards (Point Guard), Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards (Small Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie Awards (Center).
Previous winners of the Karl Malone Award are 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), Johnathan Motley, Baylor (2017), Georges Niang, Iowa State (2016), and Montrezl Harrell, Louisville (2015).
Utah State will look to earn its first-ever outright Mountain West regular season title when the aggies host New Mexico on Saturday, March 9, at 6:30 p.m.
Utah State men's basketball news and information is available on Facebook (facebook.com/usumensbasketball), on Twitter (@usubasketball) and on Instagram (@usubasketball). Fans can also get USU men's basketball highlights on YouTube (youtube.com/utahstateathletics). Aggie fans can follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter (@usuathletics), on Facebook (facebook.com/usuathletics) or on Instagram (@usuathletics).
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