University of North Carolina Athletics
Caleb Wilson
Photo by: Maggie Hobson
Wilson Named To Karl Malone Award Midseason List
February 5, 2026 | Men's Basketball
North Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson is among 10 candidates nationally named to the midseason watch list for the 2026 Karl Malone Award, given to the nation's top power forward.
Fan voting will begin on Friday, February 6th and will take place at www.hoophallawards.com. Fans will be able to vote for their favorite players throughout each round of the process. The leading vote-getter will receive one additional vote from the selection committee, so we encourage you to promote fan voting to your fan base through social media platforms and other communication channels.
The Midseason Watch List will be narrowed to five finalists in mid-March. The award winner will be announced ahead of the Final Four in late March / early April, with presentation details to be announced at a later date.
Please note that throughout the selection process, the watch list will remain fluid, and players may move on or off the list based on performance until the final five finalists are determined.
2026 Karl Malone Award
Midseason Watch List
Koa Peat, Arizona
Cameron Boozer, Duke
Graham Ike, Gonzaga
Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
Malik Reneau, Miami
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Caleb Wilson, North Carolina
Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Alex Karaban, UConn
Fan voting will begin on Friday, February 6th and will take place at www.hoophallawards.com. Fans will be able to vote for their favorite players throughout each round of the process. The leading vote-getter will receive one additional vote from the selection committee, so we encourage you to promote fan voting to your fan base through social media platforms and other communication channels.
The Midseason Watch List will be narrowed to five finalists in mid-March. The award winner will be announced ahead of the Final Four in late March / early April, with presentation details to be announced at a later date.
Please note that throughout the selection process, the watch list will remain fluid, and players may move on or off the list based on performance until the final five finalists are determined.
2026 Karl Malone Award
Midseason Watch List
Koa Peat, Arizona
Cameron Boozer, Duke
Graham Ike, Gonzaga
Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
Malik Reneau, Miami
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Caleb Wilson, North Carolina
Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Alex Karaban, UConn
Players Mentioned
F
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