Courtesy of Utah State Athletics
LOGAN, Utah – No. 17 Utah State men’s basketball junior wing Great Osobor has been named one of the top 10 candidates for the 2024 Karl Malone Award, it was announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Thursday.
Osobor is one of two candidates from the Mountain West, joining San Diego State’s Jaedon LeDee. The remaining eight candidates are Akron’s Enrique Freeman, Arizona’s Keshad Johnson, Dayton’s DaRon Holmes II, Duke’s KyleFilipowski, Gonzaga’s Graham Ike, Marquette’s Oso Ighodaro, Miami’s (Fla.) Norchad Omier and UConn’s Alex Karaban.
Osobor ranks 27th in the nation in rebounds per game (9.6), 30th in field goal percentage (.595) and 51st in points per game (19.1).
The native of Bradford, England, has scored in double figures in 19 games this season, including 10 20-plus point and three 30-plus point outings. He has logged 10 double-doubles and collected double-figure rebounds 11 times this season, while logging at least five boards in 19 games. He has also had eight games recording multiple blocks, six games recording multiple steals and had a career-best seven assists in the 90-85 overtime win at Boise State.
For the season, Osobor is averaging 19.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 steals per game, while shooting 59.4 percent (138-of-232) from the field, 50.0 percent (3-of-6) from deep and 67.8 percent (122-of-180) at the free throw line.
Named after Class of 2010 Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Karl Malone, the annual honor, in its 10th year, recognizes the top power forward in Division I men’s college basketball.
Fans can support their favorite players in the remaining rounds by participating in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, starting Friday, February 2, on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
In March, five finalists will be presented to Malone and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. The Selection Committee for the Karl Malone Award is composed of top men’s college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
The winner of the 2024 Karl Malone Award will be presented on a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the Men’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy Award (Point Guard), Jerry West Award (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving Award (Small Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center), in addition to the Women’s Starting Five.
Previous winners of the Karl Malone Award are Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana (2023), Keegan Murray, Iowa (2022), 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).
The Aggies next take on San Diego State on Saturday, Feb. 3, at 1:30 p.m. (MT) inside Viejas Arena. The game will be nationally broadcast on FOX.
Season tickets for the 2023-24 men’s basketball season are on sale and can be purchased by visiting www.utahstateaggies.com or by calling the Utah State ticket office at 1-888-USTATE-1.
Utah State men’s basketball news and information is available on Facebook (facebook.com/usumensbasketball), on Twitter (@usubasketball) and on Instagram (@usubasketball). Fans can also get USU men’s basketball highlights on YouTube (youtube.com/utahstateathletics). Aggie fans can follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter (@usuathletics), on Facebook (facebook.com/usuathletics) or on Instagram (@usuathletics).
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