Williams Selected for Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award Watch List
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis Tigers senior forward DeAndre Williams is one of 20 student-athletes on the watch list for the 2022 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award, announced Thursday by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Williams, a Preseason All-American Athletic Conference Second Team selection, finished second on the team in scoring last season at 11.7 points per game. He became eligible prior to Memphis' Dec. 16 game at Tulane last year and helped the Tigers to a 16-5 record in the games that followed, with the five losses by a combined 15 points.
The Houston, Texas, native ended the year one of six players in the nation to average at least 11.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game.
Named after Class of 2010 Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Karl Malone, the annual honor in its eighth year recognizes the top power forwards in Division I men’s college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2022 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February down to five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Mr. Malone and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee where a winner will be selected.
Previous winners of the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award include 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 2022 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award and the latest updates, log onto www.hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall and #MaloneAward on Twitter and Instagram. Starting Five Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies will go live on Friday.
2022 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award Candidates
Azoulas Tubelis Arizona
Jabari Smith Auburn
David Roddy Colorado St.
Paolo Banchero Duke
Drew Timme Gonzaga
Trayce Jackson-Davis Indiana
Kenneth Lofton Jr. Louisiana Tech
Eli Scott Loyola Marymount
Darius Days LSU
Donta Scott Maryland
DeAndre Williams Memphis
Dawson Garcia North Carolina
EJ Lidell Ohio State
Quincy Guerrier Oregon
Trevion Williams Purdue
John Fulkerson Tennessee
Tre Mitchell Texas
Isaiah Mobley USC
Jayden Gardner Virginia
Keve Aluma Virginia Tech
The Tigers are prepping for a pair of preseason exhibition games, hosting LeMoyne-Owen on Sunday at 4 p.m. and Lane College on Sunday, Oct. 31 at 1 p.m.
