Kingsley Okoroh on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of Year Award Watch List

Kingsley Okoroh is one of 20 NCAA Division I centers on the watch list for the 2018 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame has announced.

Named after Hall of Famer, three-time NCAA champion, six-time NBA champion and six-NBA MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the yearly award recognises the top center in Division I men’s college basketball. A national committee consisting of top college basketball personnel selected the 20 preseason candidates.

Okoroh, a former Derby Trailblazer and England Under 18/U16, enters his senior season following Pac-12 All-Defensive Honorable Mention laurels last year. He logged 74 blocks to become Cal’s single-season blocked shots leader. The Derby, England native started 24 contests in 2016-17 — appearing in all 34 games — en route to averaging a career-best in points (4.6) and rebounds (5.5).

During his junior season, Okoroh also averaged 2.2 blocks per a game and recorded four or more blocks in six outings, while also setting single-game career-highs with five blocks against Wyoming and 13 rebounds against No. 4 UCLA.

The Abdul-Jabbar Award Committee will narrow down its candidates to 10 by mid-February, with the five finalists announced in March. The winner of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award will be crowned at the ESPN College Basketball Awards Show on Friday, April 6 in Los Angeles, CA.

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