University of North Carolina Athletics
Walker Kessler and Armando Bacot battle in a recent practice in the Smith Center.
Photo by: Maggie Hobson
Bacot & Kessler Earn Spots On Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Watch List
November 6, 2020 | Men's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL — The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced on Friday the 20 watch list members for the 2021 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award.
North Carolina big men Armando Bacot, a sophomore from Richmond, Va., and Walker Kessler, a freshman from Newnan, Ga., both made the cut. Earlier this week, senior Garrison Brooks made the watch list for the Karl Malone Award, given to the nation's best power forward.
Named after Class of 1995 Hall of Famer and three-time NCAA champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the annual honor in its seventh year recognizes the top centers in men's college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
"The final Men's Starting Five watch list we are revealing is that of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "Mr. Abdul-Jabbar is unparalleled when it comes to his accomplishments at both the collegiate and professional level. As a strong advocate for education and character, he brings a significant perspective when evaluating talent and we greatly value his involvement."
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played for legendary coach and Hall of Famer John Wooden at UCLA from 1966-1969. He is a three-time NCAA Champion who earned numerous accolades including three-time Final Four Most Outstanding Player, three-time National College Player of the Year and three-time Consensus First-Team All-American (1967-1969). As a professional, Abdul-Jabbar is a six-time NBA Champion, six-time NBA Most Valuable Player, two-time NBA Finals MVP, 19-time NBA All-Star and the league's all-time leading scorer.
College basketball fans are encouraged to participate in fan voting in each of the three rounds. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2021 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award will be narrowed down to just 10. In late February, five finalists will be presented to Abdul-Jabbar and the Hall of Fame's selection committee.
The winner of the 2021 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award will be presented on Friday, April 9, 2021, along with the other four members of the Men's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy Point Guard Award, the Jerry West Shooting Guard Award, the Julius Erving Small Forward Award and the Karl Malone Power Forward Award, in addition to the Women's Starting Five.
Previous winners of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award include Luka Garza, Iowa (2020), Ethan Happ, Wisconsin (2019), Angel Delgado, Seton Hall (2018), Przemek Karnowski, Gonzaga (2017), Jakob Poeltl, Utah (2016) and Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin (2015).
For more information on the 2021 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award and the latest updates, log onto www.hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall and #KareemAward on Twitter and Instagram.
2021 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award Candidates*
*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2020-2021 season*
North Carolina big men Armando Bacot, a sophomore from Richmond, Va., and Walker Kessler, a freshman from Newnan, Ga., both made the cut. Earlier this week, senior Garrison Brooks made the watch list for the Karl Malone Award, given to the nation's best power forward.
Another day ➡ Another Watch List 😤
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) November 6, 2020
More info 🔗: https://t.co/6IJtHjpaea#CarolinaFamily pic.twitter.com/4rqgkFS2u4
Named after Class of 1995 Hall of Famer and three-time NCAA champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the annual honor in its seventh year recognizes the top centers in men's college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
"The final Men's Starting Five watch list we are revealing is that of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "Mr. Abdul-Jabbar is unparalleled when it comes to his accomplishments at both the collegiate and professional level. As a strong advocate for education and character, he brings a significant perspective when evaluating talent and we greatly value his involvement."
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played for legendary coach and Hall of Famer John Wooden at UCLA from 1966-1969. He is a three-time NCAA Champion who earned numerous accolades including three-time Final Four Most Outstanding Player, three-time National College Player of the Year and three-time Consensus First-Team All-American (1967-1969). As a professional, Abdul-Jabbar is a six-time NBA Champion, six-time NBA Most Valuable Player, two-time NBA Finals MVP, 19-time NBA All-Star and the league's all-time leading scorer.
College basketball fans are encouraged to participate in fan voting in each of the three rounds. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2021 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award will be narrowed down to just 10. In late February, five finalists will be presented to Abdul-Jabbar and the Hall of Fame's selection committee.
The winner of the 2021 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award will be presented on Friday, April 9, 2021, along with the other four members of the Men's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy Point Guard Award, the Jerry West Shooting Guard Award, the Julius Erving Small Forward Award and the Karl Malone Power Forward Award, in addition to the Women's Starting Five.
Previous winners of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award include Luka Garza, Iowa (2020), Ethan Happ, Wisconsin (2019), Angel Delgado, Seton Hall (2018), Przemek Karnowski, Gonzaga (2017), Jakob Poeltl, Utah (2016) and Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin (2015).
For more information on the 2021 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award and the latest updates, log onto www.hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall and #KareemAward on Twitter and Instagram.
2021 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award Candidates*
| Matt Haarms | BYU |
| Mark Williams | Duke |
| Kofi Cockburn | Illinois |
| Luka Garza | Iowa |
| Olivier Sarr | Kentucky |
| Ahsan Asadullah | Lipscomb |
| Cameron Krutwig | Loyola Chicago |
| Mousa Cisse | Memphis |
| Liam Robbins | Minnesota |
| Armando Bacot | North Carolina |
| Walker Kessler | North Carolina |
| Trevion Williams | Purdue |
| Grant Golden | Richmond |
| Evan Mobley | USC |
| Neemias Queta | Utah State |
| Jay Huff | Virginia |
| Derek Culver | West Virginia |
| Charles Bassey | Western Kentucky |
| Micah Potter | Wisconsin |
| Loudon Love | Wright State |
*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2020-2021 season*
Players Mentioned
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