Graham Ike named to Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award Watch List

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Press Release) - The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the 20 watch list members for the 2023 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award and Wyoming’s Graham Ike was named to the list. He was named the Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year last week along with earning a spot on the All-MW Preseason team.

Ike is the first Cowboy to be named to the award watch list since Larry Nance Jr. was named a finalist during the 2014-15 season.

“The Basketball Hall of Fame is proud to annually recognize the best power forwards in the collegiate game with the Karl Malone Award, which bears the name of one of the greatest players of all time,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “To be named to the watchlist of the Karl Malone Award is a great honor and I know he values the opportunity to watch these players compete throughout the season. We are honored to have his unique perspective in our evaluation each year.”

The Aurora, Colo. native, Ike was a First Team All-MW by the media and Second Team by the coaches last season. He ranked second in the MW and No. 30 in the nation in points per game with 19.5. He ranked second in the MW and No. 21 in the nation in rebounding at 9.6 per night. He scored in double-figures in all but one game during the season. He scored 25 or more points in a game nine times during the season including 4-of-5 games during the opening stretch of conference play. He is one of only two returning players in the NCAA to average over 19 points and nine rebounds per game.

Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, in each of the three rounds beginning Friday, October 28. 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 to just five. In March the five finalists will be presented to Malone and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee where a winner will be selected.

The winner of the 2023 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 Power Forward of the Year Award include 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).

For more information on the 2023 Karl Malone Award and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall and #MaloneAward on Twitter and Instagram.