Sanogo named to Abdul-Jabbar Award watch list
Oct. 29—UConn men's basketball junior Adama Sanogo continues to earn recognition ahead of the 2022-23 season.
The 6-foot-9, 245-pound forward/center was named to the 2023 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award watch list, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Friday afternoon.
Sanogo, who was a finalist for the award last year, was one of 20 players on the watch list. He was previously named the Big East preseason Player of the Year during Big East Media Day at Madison Square Garden Oct. 18.
"The student-athletes on this list should feel tremendously proud of all they have accomplished to be associated with basketball's all-time leading scorer," president and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame John L. Doleva said in a press release. "With his focus on both education and athletics, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's perspective is cherished by our committee when evaluating talent each year."
Sanogo had a breakout season for the Huskies last year. He averaged 14.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in 29 games. He also posted .504 shooting percentage.
His rebounding average led the team and, and his scoring average was second behind R.J. Cole. Sanogo is the only one of the Huskies' top-five scorers last year still on the team.
The watch list will be narrowed to a top 10 in late January and five finalists in late February. The finalists will then be presented top the award's selection committee and its namesake Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who will announce the winner at a date to be announced.
The 20 players on the watch list are not set in stone until the five finalists are announced — players can be removed or added based on their performances this season.
Fans can vote for their favorite each round. The top 10 selections from the fan vote will receive an additional vote to their round total.
Joining Sanogo on the watch list are fellow Big East big men Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton) and Jack Nunge (Xavier), as well as last year's winner Oscar Tshiebwe (Kentucky).
2023 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Watch List
Adama Sanogo, UConn
Charles Bediako, Alabama
Oumar Ballo, Arizona
PJ Hall, Clemson
Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
Dereck Lively II, Duke
Colin Castleton, Florida
Osun Osunniyi, Iowa State
Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky
Hunter Dickinson, Michigan
Armando Bacot, North Carolina
Moussa Cisse, Oklahoma State
Kel'el Ware, Oregon
Zach Edey, Purdue
Clifford Omoruyi, Rutgers
Fardaws Aimaq, Texas Tech
Adem Bona, UCLA
Branden Carlson, Utah
Jamarion Sharp, Western Kentucky
Jack Nunge, Xavier
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