Daum a Finalist for 2019 Karl Malone Award

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Mike Daum as one of five finalists for the 2019 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award Thursday. Named after Class of 2010 Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Karl Malone, the annual honor in its fifth year recognizes the top power forwards in Division I men's college basketball.

Daum has led the Jackrabbit offense all season as the only player nationally to average over 25 points and 10 rebounds per game, at 25.6 and 11.7, respectively. A 51 percent shooter with 64 3-point field goals on the year, Daum has tallied 20 double-doubles on the year and last month joined the NCAA's illustrious 3,000-point club. The Kimball, Nebraska native, who was among the pre- and mid-season favorites, was also one of five finalists for the 2018 Karl Malone Award. He joins previous winner Georges Niang (Iowa State) and Kansas' Perry Ellis as one of three to repeat as finalists.

A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 student-athletes in October, which was narrowed to 10 candidates in February and now just five finalists. This month, the finalists will be presented to Mr. Malone and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The winner of the 2019 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award will be determined by a combination of fan votes and input from the Basketball Hall of Fame's selection committee.

Fans are encouraged to visit www.HoophallAwards.com to cast their votes March 8-29.

"To be recognized as a finalist for the Karl Malone Award is a tremendous honor and these student-athletes should feel very proud," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "Mr. Malone and our committee will be closely monitoring their play down the stretch to determine who will take home this prestigious award this season."

Daum is joined as a finalist for the 2019 Karl Malone Award by Zion Williamson (Duke), Dedric Lawson (Kansas), PJ Washington (Kentucky) and Grant Williams (Tennessee).

"While these five finalists can certainly fill up the stat sheet, I'm interested in seeing who can also deliver the intangibles for their team this postseason," said Karl Malone, Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2010. "I really enjoy the process of selecting our award winner and look forward to watching these guys compete for a championship."

The winner of the 2019 Karl Malone Award will be presented at The College Basketball Awards presented by Wendy's in Los Angeles, CA on Friday, April 12, 2019, along with the other four members of the Naismith Starting 5. Additional awards being presented and receiving support from Eaton Ephesus Lighting include the Bob Cousy Point Guard Award, the Jerry West Shooting Guard Award, the Julius Erving Small Forward Award and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center Award. Additional information about the telecast will be released by ESPN at a later date.

Previous winners of the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award include Deandre Ayton, Arizona (2018), Johnathan Motley, Baylor (2017), Georges Niang, Iowa State (2016) and Montrezl Harrell, Louisville (2015).

For more information and the latest updates on the 2019 Karl Malone Award, log onto www.hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall and #MaloneAward on Twitter and Instagram.

South Dakota State begins its 2019 Summit League Tournament run Saturday as the top seed, taking on No. 8 seed Western Illinois. Tipoff from the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls is 6 p.m.

-GoJacks.com-

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