Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award

{{Short description|Annual award for the best center in NCAA Division I men's basketball}}

{{distinguish|Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award}}

{{infobox sports award

| name = Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award

| image =

| imagesize =

| caption =

| description = the nation's top male center in NCAA basketball

| presenter = Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

| country = United States

| location =

| year = 2015

| holder = Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton

| website = {{official|https://www.hoophallawards.com/kareem.php}}

}}

The Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award is an annual basketball award given by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to the top men's collegiate center. Following the success of the Bob Cousy Award which had been awarded since 2004, the award was one of four new awards (along with the Jerry West Award, Julius Erving Award and Karl Malone Award) created as part of the inaugural College Basketball Awards show in 2015.{{cite news|last =| first =| title=College Basketball Awards handed out |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/838565369 |newspaper=Valley News |location=Lebanon, New Hampshire |date=April 11, 2015 |page= 16|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = July 11, 2024}} It is named after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee who played the position. The inaugural winner was Frank Kaminsky of Wisconsin.{{cite news|last =| first =| title=UW's Kaminsky wins Wooden Award |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/420280984 |newspaper=Chippewa Herald-Telegram |location=Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin |date=April 11, 2015 |page= 10|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = July 11, 2024}}

Key

class="wikitable"

style="background-color:#FFE6BD" | *

| Awarded a national player of the year award:
Sporting News; Oscar Robertson Trophy; Associated Press; NABC; Naismith; Wooden

Player (X)

| Denotes the number of times the player has been awarded the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at that point

Winners

{{Multiple image

| header =

| align = right

| direction =

| total_width = 320

| perrow = 2/2

| image1 = 20150808 Jakob Pöltl 2421.jpg

| caption1 = Jakob Pöltl, Utah, 2016

| image2 = Angel Delgado vs. Bradley.jpg

| caption2 = Ángel Delgado, Seton Hall, 2018

| image3 = Ethan Happ 2017.jpg

| caption3 = Ethan Happ, Wisconsin, 2019

| image4 = Zach Edey 2 (cropped).jpg

| caption4 = Zach Edey, Purdue, 2024

}}

class="wikitable sortable"
Season ! Player ! School ! Class ! class="unsortable" \| Reference
align=center \| 2014–15 \| style="background-color:#FFE6BD" \| {{sortname\|Frank\|Kaminsky}}* \| Wisconsin \| {{sort\|4\|Senior}} \|
align=center \| 2015–16 \| {{sortname\|Jakob\|Pöltl}} \| Utah \| {{sort\|2\|Sophomore}} \| {{cite news\|last =Barkowitz\| first =Ed\| title=25 things to ponder about NBA draft \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/197521835 \|newspaper=Philadelphia Daily News \|location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania \|date=June 22, 2016 \|page= 43\|via =Newspapers.com \|accessdate = July 11, 2024}}
align=center \| 2016–17 \| {{sortname\|Przemek\|Karnowski}} \| Gonzaga \| {{sort\|4\|Senior}} \| {{cite news\|last =Meehan\| first =Jim\| title=Gonzaga's Karnowski named best center \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/581647391 \|newspaper=The Spokesman-Review \|location=Spokane, Washington \|date=April 8, 2017 \|page= B1\|via =Newspapers.com \|accessdate = July 11, 2024}}
align=center \| 2017–18 \| {{sortname\|Ángel\|Delgado}} \| Seton Hall \| {{sort\|4\|Senior}} \| {{cite news\|last =Carino\| first =Jerry\| title=Seton Hall's Delgado captures the Kareem award \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/415780975 \|newspaper=The Central Jersey Home News \|location=New Brunswick, New Jersey \|date=April 9, 2018 \|page= B2\|via =Newspapers.com \|accessdate = July 11, 2024}}
align=center \| 2018–19 \| {{sortname\|Ethan\|Happ}} \| Wisconsin \| {{sort\|4\|Senior}} \| {{cite news\|last =\| first =\| title=Happ selected nation's top center \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/553651823 \|newspaper=Wisconsin State Journal \|location=Madison, Wisconsin \|date=April 13, 2019 \|page= B2\|via =Newspapers.com \|accessdate = July 11, 2024}}
align=center \| 2019–20 \| {{sortname\|Luka\|Garza}} \| Iowa \| {{sort\|3\|Junior}} \| {{cite news\|last =Hlas\| first =Mike\| title=Garza denied player of year award; Garza was named the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award winner, though \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/654567228 \|newspaper=The Gazette \|location=Cedar Rapids, Iowa \|date=April 8, 2020 \|page= P1\|via =Newspapers.com \|accessdate = July 11, 2024}}
align=center \| 2020–21 \| style="background-color:#FFE6BD" \| {{sortname\|Luka\|Garza}}* (2) \| Iowa \| {{sort\|4\|Senior}} \| {{cite news\|last =Hlas\| first =Mike\| title=Iowa's Garza winner of Naismith Trophy; Also repeats as winner of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/726638753 \|newspaper=The Gazette \|location=Cedar Rapids, Iowa \|date=April 4, 2021 \|page= P1\|via =Newspapers.com \|accessdate = July 11, 2024}}
align=center \| 2021–22 \| style="background-color:#FFE6BD" \| {{sortname\|Oscar\|Tshiebwe}}* \| Kentucky \| {{sort\|3\|Junior}} \| {{cite news\|last =\| first =\| title=Oscar Tshiebwe has won a truckload of trophies. Here's the full—and historic—list \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/831342578 \|newspaper=Lexington Herald-Leader \|location=Lexington, Kentucky \|date=April 7, 2022 \|page= B4\|via =Newspapers.com \|accessdate = July 11, 2024}}
align=center \| 2022–23 \| style="background-color:#FFE6BD" \| {{sortname\|Zach\|Edey}}* \| Purdue \| {{sort\|3\|Junior}} \| {{cite news \|author= \|date=April 5, 2023 \|title=IMG Academy Alumni Zach Edey Sweeps Three Major 2023 College Player of the Year Awards \|url=https://www.imgacademy.com/news/img-academy-alumni-zach-edey-wins-2023-college-player-of-the-year \|work=IMGAcademy.com \|location=Bradenton, Florida \|access-date=July 11, 2024}}
align=center \| 2023–24 \| style="background-color:#FFE6BD" \| {{sortname\|Zach\|Edey}}* (2) \| Purdue \| {{sort\|4\|Senior}} \| {{cite news \|author= \|date=April 8, 2024 \|title=Edey Collects Naismith, Abdul-Jabbar Awards \|url=https://admin.bigten.org/news/2024/4/8/general-edey-collects-naismith-abdul-jabbar-awards.aspx \|work=BigTen.com \|location=Phoenix, Arizona \|access-date=July 11, 2024}}
align=center \| 2024–25 \| {{sortname\|Ryan\|Kalkbrenner}} \| Creighton \| {{sort\|4\|Senior}} \| {{cite news \|last=Parsons \|first=McKenzy \|date=April 5, 2025 \|title=Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner is the recipient of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award \|url=https://www.ketv.com/article/creighton-ryan-kalkbrenner-named-kareem-abdul-jabbar-center-of-the-year-award/64396071 \|work=KETV.com \|location= \|publisher=Hearst Television Inc. \|access-date=April 6, 2025}}

class="wikitable sortable"

Season

! Player

! School

! Class

! class="unsortable" | Reference

align=center

| 2014–15

| style="background-color:#FFE6BD" | {{sortname|Frank|Kaminsky}}*

| Wisconsin

| {{sort|4|Senior}}

align=center

| 2015–16

| {{sortname|Jakob|Pöltl}}

| Utah

| {{sort|2|Sophomore}}

| {{cite news|last =Barkowitz| first =Ed| title=25 things to ponder about NBA draft |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/197521835 |newspaper=Philadelphia Daily News |location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |date=June 22, 2016 |page= 43|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = July 11, 2024}}

align=center

| 2016–17

| {{sortname|Przemek|Karnowski}}

| Gonzaga

| {{sort|4|Senior}}

| {{cite news|last =Meehan| first =Jim| title=Gonzaga's Karnowski named best center |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/581647391 |newspaper=The Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |date=April 8, 2017 |page= B1|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = July 11, 2024}}

align=center

| 2017–18

| {{sortname|Ángel|Delgado}}

| Seton Hall

| {{sort|4|Senior}}

| {{cite news|last =Carino| first =Jerry| title=Seton Hall's Delgado captures the Kareem award |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/415780975 |newspaper=The Central Jersey Home News |location=New Brunswick, New Jersey |date=April 9, 2018 |page= B2|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = July 11, 2024}}

align=center

| 2018–19

| {{sortname|Ethan|Happ}}

| Wisconsin

| {{sort|4|Senior}}

| {{cite news|last =| first =| title=Happ selected nation's top center |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/553651823 |newspaper=Wisconsin State Journal |location=Madison, Wisconsin |date=April 13, 2019 |page= B2|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = July 11, 2024}}

align=center

| 2019–20

| {{sortname|Luka|Garza}}

| Iowa

| {{sort|3|Junior}}

| {{cite news|last =Hlas| first =Mike| title=Garza denied player of year award; Garza was named the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award winner, though |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/654567228 |newspaper=The Gazette |location=Cedar Rapids, Iowa |date=April 8, 2020 |page= P1|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = July 11, 2024}}

align=center

| 2020–21

| style="background-color:#FFE6BD" | {{sortname|Luka|Garza}}* (2)

| Iowa

| {{sort|4|Senior}}

| {{cite news|last =Hlas| first =Mike| title=Iowa's Garza winner of Naismith Trophy; Also repeats as winner of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/726638753 |newspaper=The Gazette |location=Cedar Rapids, Iowa |date=April 4, 2021 |page= P1|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = July 11, 2024}}

align=center

| 2021–22

| style="background-color:#FFE6BD" | {{sortname|Oscar|Tshiebwe}}*

| Kentucky

| {{sort|3|Junior}}

| {{cite news|last =| first =| title=Oscar Tshiebwe has won a truckload of trophies. Here's the full—and historic—list |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/831342578 |newspaper=Lexington Herald-Leader |location=Lexington, Kentucky |date=April 7, 2022 |page= B4|via =Newspapers.com |accessdate = July 11, 2024}}

align=center

| 2022–23

| style="background-color:#FFE6BD" | {{sortname|Zach|Edey}}*

| Purdue

| {{sort|3|Junior}}

| {{cite news |author= |date=April 5, 2023 |title=IMG Academy Alumni Zach Edey Sweeps Three Major 2023 College Player of the Year Awards |url=https://www.imgacademy.com/news/img-academy-alumni-zach-edey-wins-2023-college-player-of-the-year |work=IMGAcademy.com |location=Bradenton, Florida |access-date=July 11, 2024}}

align=center

| 2023–24

| style="background-color:#FFE6BD" | {{sortname|Zach|Edey}}* (2)

| Purdue

| {{sort|4|Senior}}

| {{cite news |author= |date=April 8, 2024 |title=Edey Collects Naismith, Abdul-Jabbar Awards |url=https://admin.bigten.org/news/2024/4/8/general-edey-collects-naismith-abdul-jabbar-awards.aspx |work=BigTen.com |location=Phoenix, Arizona |access-date=July 11, 2024}}

align=center

| 2024–25

| {{sortname|Ryan|Kalkbrenner}}

| Creighton

| {{sort|4|Senior}}

| {{cite news |last=Parsons |first=McKenzy |date=April 5, 2025 |title=Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner is the recipient of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award |url=https://www.ketv.com/article/creighton-ryan-kalkbrenner-named-kareem-abdul-jabbar-center-of-the-year-award/64396071 |work=KETV.com |location= |publisher=Hearst Television Inc. |access-date=April 6, 2025}}

Winners by school

School	Winners	Years
class=wikitable
align=center\| Iowa	align=center\|2	2020, 2021
align=center\| Purdue	align=center\|2	2023, 2024
align=center\| Wisconsin	align=center\|2	2015, 2019
align=center\| Creighton	align=center\|1	2025
align=center\| Gonzaga	align=center\|1	2017
align=center\| Kentucky	align=center\|1	2022
align=center\| Seton Hall	align=center\|1	2018
align=center\| Utah	align=center\|1	2016

References

External links

{{official|https://www.hoophallawards.com/kareem.php}}

Category:Awards established in 2015

Category:College basketball trophies and awards in the United States

School	Winners	Years
class=wikitable
align=center\| Iowa	align=center\|2	2020, 2021
align=center\| Purdue	align=center\|2	2023, 2024
align=center\| Wisconsin	align=center\|2	2015, 2019
align=center\| Creighton	align=center\|1	2025
align=center\| Gonzaga	align=center\|1	2017
align=center\| Kentucky	align=center\|1	2022
align=center\| Seton Hall	align=center\|1	2018
align=center\| Utah	align=center\|1	2016