AUBURN, Ala (EETV) – Auburn Freshman Jabari Smith was named to the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award Top-10 Watchlist by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Thursday.
Smith has been on a tear this season, averaging 15.6 points per game along with 6.7 rebounds, while leading the No. 1 ranked Auburn Tigers to their current 18-game win streak. The 6-10 freshman has scored 10-plus points in 19 of 22 contests this year and has been honored as the SEC Freshman of the Week 4 times.
In addition to Smith, other players in the running for the Karl Malone PF of the Year Award include Arizona’s Azuolas Tubelis, Colorado State’s David Roddy, Duke’s Paolo Banchero, Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren, Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis, Iowa’s Keegan Murray, LSU’s Tari Eason, Ohio State’s EJ Liddell, and USC’s Isaiah Mobley.
Smith is one of two Auburn players on the watchlist for these prestigious position awards. Auburn Sophomore Guard Wendell Green Jr. was named to the Top 10 watchlist for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award earlier this week.
Fans are encouraged to participate in the voting by choosing their final five candidates starting Friday by using the Fan Voting at hoophallawards.com or by following @hoophall and using #MaloneAward on Twitter and Instagram.
