SPRINGFIELD. Mass. – University of Memphis sophomore forward Dedric Lawson has been tabbed as one of 20 student-athletes named to the watch list for the 2017 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award.
Lawson was named the unanimous 2015-16 American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year after averaging 15.8 points per game and leading the conference with a 9.3 rebound per game average. He was named to the Kyle Macy Freshman All-America Team, and Second Team All-District by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).
Named after Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Karl Malone, the annual honor in its third year recognizes the top power forwards in Division I men’s college basketball. A national committee comprised of top college basketball personnel determines the watch list of 20 candidates.
His 17 double-doubles last season set an American Athletic Conference record, tied a Memphis freshman record with Keith Lee and was 19th best in all of NCAA Division I. Lawson's 307 rebounds last season are the third-most by a freshman in program history, and his 9.3 rebound per game average ranks fourth in school history for a freshman.
Lawson was the only freshman in the country last season with at least 500 points, 300 rebounds, 60 assists, 50 blocked shots, and 20 three-pointers made.
Lawson joins UConn's Jalen Adams (Bob Cousy) and Terry Larrier (Julius Erving), Cincinnati's Jacob Evans III (Jerry West) and SMU's Shake Milton (Jerry Watch) as American Athletic Conference players named to the Basketball Hall of Fame's watch lists to this point.
By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2017 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Mr. Malone and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. The winner of the 2017 Karl Malone Award will be presented at the ESPN College Basketball Awards Show presented by Wendy’s in Los Angeles, Calif., on Friday, April 7, 2017.
Players can play their way onto the list at any point in the 2016-17 season.
Previous winners of the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year include Georges Niang, Iowa State (2016) and Montrezl Harrell, Louisville (2015). For more information on the 2017 Karl Malone Award, log on to www.HoophallAwards.com.
2017 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award Candidates
Lauri Markkanen, Arizona
Johnathan Motley, Baylor
Ivan Rabb, California
Amile Jefferson, Duke
Jonathan Isaac, Florida State
Yante Maten, Georgia
Carlton Bragg Jr., Kansas
Dedric Lawson, Memphis
Miles Bridges, Michigan St.
Isaiah Hicks, North Carolina
Bonzie Colson, Notre Dame
Michael Young, Pittsburgh
Caleb Swanigan, Purdue
Tyler Lydon, Syracuse
TJ Leaf, UCLA
Bennie Boatwright, USC
Alec Peters, Valparaiso
Kris Jenkins, Villanova
Austin Nichols, Virginia
Nigel Hayes, Wisconsin