Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Merrimack on November 3, 2025 at 8 p.m.
/
8 p.m.
Men's Basketball
vs Merrimack
South Dakota State University Athletics
Oscar Cluff
OSCAR CLUFF ON CENTER OF THE YEAR AWARD LIST
2/7/2025 11:59:00 AM | Men's Basketball
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – South Dakota State senior Oscar Cluff was recognized by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as one of the 10 candidates for the 2025 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year award on Friday. This honor recognizes the top center in men's college basketball.Â
Â
Cluff has put together an impressive 2024-25 season through 25 games. The Sunshine Coast, Australia, native is averaging 16.9 points, 12.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. Cluff is second in the nation rebounding, he's tied for second in double-doubles with 16, while his field goal percentage of 65.2% ranks fourth in the country.Â
Â
The Jackrabbit center has earned the Kwik Star Summit League Men's Basketball Peak Performer of the Week award four times this season. He was the conference's Peak Performer of the Month for November and the league's Newcomer of the Month in January. Cluff set a career-high mark of 30 points in a Jan. 2 victory over Denver. Cluff has five 19-plus rebound efforts including a 20-rebound performance versus Oral Roberts on Jan. 18.Â
Â
Cluff joins an impressive duo in SDSU history previously making Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame watch lists. Mike Daum was a top-five finalist for the Karl Malone Award, handed out to the Power Forward of the Year, in 2018 and 2019. Nate Wolters was one of the final 12 members for the Bob Cousy Award, given to the Point Guard of the Year, in 2013.
Â
The Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, named after the Class of 1995 Hall of Famer and three-time NCAA Champion, celebrates its 11th year by honoring the top centers in Division I men's college basketball. It is being handed out in partnership with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's Top 10 candidates for the 2025 Lisa Leslie Award. SDSU junior Brooklyn Meyer was selected as a candidate for that honor.
Â
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in both of the remaining rounds starting today, February 7, on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
Â
In March, the Top 10 list will be narrowed to just five, and in late March, the five finalists will be presented to the Abdul-Jabbar and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committee for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award is composed of top men's and women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
Â
The winner of the 2025 Abdul-Jabbar Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men's and Women's Starting Five.Â
Â
Â
Â
Cluff has put together an impressive 2024-25 season through 25 games. The Sunshine Coast, Australia, native is averaging 16.9 points, 12.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. Cluff is second in the nation rebounding, he's tied for second in double-doubles with 16, while his field goal percentage of 65.2% ranks fourth in the country.Â
Â
The Jackrabbit center has earned the Kwik Star Summit League Men's Basketball Peak Performer of the Week award four times this season. He was the conference's Peak Performer of the Month for November and the league's Newcomer of the Month in January. Cluff set a career-high mark of 30 points in a Jan. 2 victory over Denver. Cluff has five 19-plus rebound efforts including a 20-rebound performance versus Oral Roberts on Jan. 18.Â
Â
Cluff joins an impressive duo in SDSU history previously making Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame watch lists. Mike Daum was a top-five finalist for the Karl Malone Award, handed out to the Power Forward of the Year, in 2018 and 2019. Nate Wolters was one of the final 12 members for the Bob Cousy Award, given to the Point Guard of the Year, in 2013.
Â
The Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, named after the Class of 1995 Hall of Famer and three-time NCAA Champion, celebrates its 11th year by honoring the top centers in Division I men's college basketball. It is being handed out in partnership with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's Top 10 candidates for the 2025 Lisa Leslie Award. SDSU junior Brooklyn Meyer was selected as a candidate for that honor.
Â
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in both of the remaining rounds starting today, February 7, on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
Â
In March, the Top 10 list will be narrowed to just five, and in late March, the five finalists will be presented to the Abdul-Jabbar and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committee for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award is composed of top men's and women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
Â
The winner of the 2025 Abdul-Jabbar Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men's and Women's Starting Five.Â
Â
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award | |
| Ryan Kalkbrenner | Creighton |
| Asa Newell | Georgia |
| Hunter Dickinson | Kansas |
| Derrick Queen | Maryland |
| Vladislav Goldin | Michigan |
| Dawson Garcia | Minnesota |
| Nate Bittle | Oregon |
| Oscar Cluff | South Dakota St |
| Robbie Avila | St. Louis |
| Maxime Raynaud | Stanford |
-GoJacks.com-
Players Mentioned
C
/ Men's BasketballDan Jackson Show (09.08.2025)
Wednesday, September 10
Dan Jackson Weekly Press Conference (09.09.2025)
Tuesday, September 09
Volleyball Weekly Update (09.09.2025)
Tuesday, September 09
Cross Country Weekly Update (09.09.2025)
Tuesday, September 09