The University of Akron Athletics
Freeman Named Top 10 Candidate for 2023 Karl Malone Award
February 10 | Men's Basketball
SPRINGFIELD, MASS.— On Thursday, the Basketball Hall of Fame announced the Top 10 candidates for The 2023 Karl Malone Award and Akron junior Enrique Freeman (Cleveland, Ohio) made the cut.
Freeman is 1-of-14 players in the NCAA to average a double-double, scoring 15.1 points per game and grabbing 11.0 boards per contest. He ranks 12th in the NCAA with 12 double-doubles which tops the MAC. He pulled down double-digit rebounds in 15-of-24 outings, including a 15-rebound, 32-point career-best performance against Ohio.In addition, he has 17 double-digit scoring efforts, including six 20-plus point performances.
Freeman is currently ranked in the NCAA Top 30 in six categories, total rebounds (265 - 5th-NCAA, 1st-MAC), rebounds per game (11.0 - 6th-NCAA, 1st-MAC), defensive rebounds per game (7.71 - 9th-NCAA, 1st-MAC), double-doubles (12 - 12th-NCAA ,1st-MAC), offensive rebounds per game (3.33 - 24th-NCAA, 2nd-MAC) and field goal percentage (59.2 - 28th NCAA - 2nd MAC).
Freeman earned MAC Player of the Week (twice), averaging 25 points and 14.5 rebounds to open league play (Jan. 9) and 22.5 points and 11.5 rebounds (Jan. 30) for a pair of league wins.
The Karl Malone Award recognizes the top male collegiate power forwards named as contenders for "Naismith Starting Five". The award is named after Class of 2010 Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Karl Malone, the annual honor in its ninth year recognizes the top power forward in Division I men's college basketball.
2023 Karl Malone Award Candidates*
Enrique Freeman, Akron
Drew Timme, Gonzaga
Ąžuolas Tubelis, Arizona
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana
Hunter Tyson, Clemson
Kris Murray, Iowa
DaRon Holmes II, Dayton
Norchad Omier, Miami (Fla.)
Kyle Filipowski, Duke
Bryce Hopkins, Providence
*Players can play their way onto and off the list at any point in the 2022-23 season.
Fans can support their favorite players in the remaining rounds by participating in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, starting Friday, February 10, on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
In March, five finalists will be presented to Malone and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. 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.
The winner of the 2023 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 Award (Small Forward) and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center), in addition to the Women's Starting Five.
Previous winners of the Karl Malone Award are 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).
For more information on the 2023 Karl Malone Award and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall and #MaloneAward on Twitter and Instagram.
About the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame:
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, both domestically and internationally. 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 the interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game's elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum and events, visit hoophall.com, follow @hoophall or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.
Freeman is 1-of-14 players in the NCAA to average a double-double, scoring 15.1 points per game and grabbing 11.0 boards per contest. He ranks 12th in the NCAA with 12 double-doubles which tops the MAC. He pulled down double-digit rebounds in 15-of-24 outings, including a 15-rebound, 32-point career-best performance against Ohio.In addition, he has 17 double-digit scoring efforts, including six 20-plus point performances.
Freeman is currently ranked in the NCAA Top 30 in six categories, total rebounds (265 - 5th-NCAA, 1st-MAC), rebounds per game (11.0 - 6th-NCAA, 1st-MAC), defensive rebounds per game (7.71 - 9th-NCAA, 1st-MAC), double-doubles (12 - 12th-NCAA ,1st-MAC), offensive rebounds per game (3.33 - 24th-NCAA, 2nd-MAC) and field goal percentage (59.2 - 28th NCAA - 2nd MAC).
Freeman earned MAC Player of the Week (twice), averaging 25 points and 14.5 rebounds to open league play (Jan. 9) and 22.5 points and 11.5 rebounds (Jan. 30) for a pair of league wins.
The Karl Malone Award recognizes the top male collegiate power forwards named as contenders for "Naismith Starting Five". The award is named after Class of 2010 Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Karl Malone, the annual honor in its ninth year recognizes the top power forward in Division I men's college basketball.
2023 Karl Malone Award Candidates*
Enrique Freeman, Akron
Drew Timme, Gonzaga
Ąžuolas Tubelis, Arizona
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana
Hunter Tyson, Clemson
Kris Murray, Iowa
DaRon Holmes II, Dayton
Norchad Omier, Miami (Fla.)
Kyle Filipowski, Duke
Bryce Hopkins, Providence
*Players can play their way onto and off the list at any point in the 2022-23 season.
Fans can support their favorite players in the remaining rounds by participating in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, starting Friday, February 10, on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
In March, five finalists will be presented to Malone and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. 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.
The winner of the 2023 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 Award (Small Forward) and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center), in addition to the Women's Starting Five.
Previous winners of the Karl Malone Award are 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).
For more information on the 2023 Karl Malone Award and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall and #MaloneAward on Twitter and Instagram.
About the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame:
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, both domestically and internationally. 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 the interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game's elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum and events, visit hoophall.com, follow @hoophall or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.
Players Mentioned
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