Ike is the first Cowboy to be named to the award watch list since Larry Nance Jr. was named a finalist during the 2014-15 season.
“The Basketball Hall of Fame is proud to annually recognize the best forwards in the collegiate game with the Karl Malone Award, named after one of the greatest players of all time,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO i Basketball Hall of Fame. “Being named to the Karl Malone Award Watch List is a great honor and I know he appreciates the opportunity to watch these players compete throughout the season. We are honored to have his unique perspective on our evaluation each year.”
Aurora, Colo., player Ike was a First Team All-MW by the media and a Second Team by the coaches last season. He ranked second in the MW and No. 30 in the nation in points per game at 19.5. He ranked second in the MW and No. 21 in the nation in rebounding with 9.6 per night. He scored in double figures in all but one game during the season. He scored 25 or more points in a game nine times during the season, including 4-of-5 in the opener of conference play. He is one of only two returning players in the NCAA averaging over 19 points and nine rebounds per game.
Fans are encouraged to participate in the Fan Vote, presented by Dell Technologies, in each of the three rounds beginning Friday, October 28. At the end of January, the 20-player watch list for the 2022 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year award will be narrowed down to 10 and then at the end of February to just five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Malone and the Hall of Fame selection committee, where a winner will be chosen.
The winner of the 2023 Karl Malone Award will be presented at a date to be determined, 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 Award (Small Forward) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center), in addition to the Women’s Starting Five.
Previous winners of the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year award include Keegan MurrayIowa (2022), Drew TimmeGonzaga (2021), Obi ToppinDayton (2020), Zion WilliamsonDuke (2019), Deandre AytonArizona (2018), Johnathan MotleyBaylor (2017), George NiangIowa State (2016) and Montrezl HarrellLouisville (2015).
For more information on the 2023 Karl Malone Award and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall AND #Malone award on Twitter and Instagram.
About Karl Malone
Karl Malone attended Louisiana Tech University because of its 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 NBA seasons as a 14-time NBA All-Star (1988-98, 2000-02), an 11-time All-NBA First Team player (1989-99) and a member of the NBA . 50th All-Time Anniversary Team and was ranked as one of the league’s 75 greatest players in 2021. He also won two Olympic gold medals (1992, 1996).
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the birthplace of basketball, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men’s and women’s , amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, at home and abroad. The Hall of Fame Museum is home to more than 400 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo “Court of Dreams.” Best known for its annual Enshrinement Ceremony, which honors the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also hosts over 70 high school and college competitions each year across the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum and events, visit www.hoophall.com, follow @hoophall or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.
2023 Carl Malone PRICE Candidates*
| Enrique Freeman | Akron | Chris Murray | Iowa |
| Tubelis oak | Arizona | KJ Williams | LSU |
| of John Broome | Auburn | Donna Scott | Maryland |
| Arthur Kaluma | Creighton | DeAndre Williams | Memphis |
| Darron Holmes II | Dayton | Norchad Omier | Miami (Fl.) |
| Kyle Filipowski | Duke | Pete Nance | North Carolina |
| Jalen Slawson | Furman | GG Jackson | South Carolina |
| Drew Timme | Gonzaga | Jayden Gardner | Virginia |
| Jarace Walker | Houston | Justin Mutts | Virginia Tech |
| Trayce Jackson-Davis | Indiana | Graham Ike | Wyoming |
The Cowboys open the season on Nov. 7 hosting Colorado Christian at the Arena-Auditorium for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff.
