AUBURN, ALABAMA. (EETV) - Auburn Men’s Basketball players Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler have both been named finalists for their respective positions.
It was announced on Thursday that Smith was named one of five finalists for the 2022 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Smith is joined on the list by Paolo Banchero of Duke, Chet Holmgren of Gonzaga, Keegan Murray of Iowa and EJ Liddell of Ohio State.
As a freshman, Smith has averaged 16.9 points a game with 6.9 rebounds a game. Smith is the first freshman to record 500 points and 200 rebounds in Auburn history. Smith has recorded five double-doubles performances and 12 20+ point outings this season including a career-high 31 against Vanderbilt.
On Friday, it was announced that Kessler was one of the five finalists for the 2022 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award as announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Kessler is joined by Adama Sanogo of Connecticut, Drew Timme of Gonzaga, Kofi Cockburn of Illinois and Oscar Tshiebwe of Kentucky.
In his first season on the plains, the big man has averaged 11.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game this season with two triple-double performances.
The Newnan, Georiga native leads the SEC and nation in blocked shots with 4.6 a game. Kessler holds Auburn’s single-season record for blocked shots with 138.
The frontcourt will play what will most likely be their last home game on Saturday, March 5. The game will tip-off at noon and be broadcast on SEC Network.
