Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
King named as Karl Malone Award candidate
2/8/2018 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
One of 10 candidates for nation's top power forward
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Blue Raider senior forward Nick King has been named one of 10 candidates for the Karl Malone Award presented by the Naismith Starting Five and the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Awarded annually, the Karl Malone Award recognizes the top power forwards in Division I men's college basketball. The honor is in its fourth year of existence, with previous winners including Johnathan Motley from Baylor, Georges Niang from Iowa State and Montrezl Harrell from Louisville.
"I don't know if there has been a more consistent first year player new to a program than Nick King," head coach Kermit Davis said. "When you average what he's averaged and rebound the ball right at double figures every night and really impact winning on your team the way he has you belong in an elite group of college basketball players like this."
After not being considered among the preseason watch list of 21 players, King's consistent season, averaging 21.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, skyrocketed him to being one of 10 candidates in Thursday's release.
Despite his high usage for the Blue Raiders, King's efficiency is also through roof. He is currently shooting 48.9 percent from the floor, 35.8 percent from behind the arc and 77.1 percent from the free throw line.
King has also been named to the Lute Olsen Player of the Year mid-season watch list, along with winning Conference USA player of the week three times.
"It's an honor and I just thank God for allowing me to keep earning this type of recognition and it just shows that all the hard work is paying off," King said. "I couldn't be in this position without my teammates. They always find me in the right spots and even when I'm off they tell me to keep shooting the ball. The teammates and coaches that I have just continue to push me to be the best that I can be."
The Karl Malone Award is named after the legendary collegiate and professional basketball player. Nicknamed 'The Mailman', Malone attended Louisiana Tech where he led the Bulldogs to a Sweet 16 appearance and averaged 18.7 points and 9.3 rebounds a game in his three years.
Professionally, Malone has a resume' worthy of his Hall of Fame status. In his 19 seasons in the NBA, Malone is a 14-time NBA All-Star, 11-time All-NBA First Teamer, a member of the NBA's 50th anniversary All-Time Team and a two-time Olympic Gold Medal Winner.
Other semi-finalists include Duke's Marvin Bagley III, Arizona's DeAndre Ayton and North Carolina's Luke Maye.
The committee will narrow down the list to five finalists in March and the winner will be honored at ESPN's College Basketball Awards on Friday, April 6, 2018.
2018 KARL MALONE POWER FORWARD OF THE YEAR AWARD CANDIDATES
DeAndre Ayton, Arizona
Gary Clark Jr., Cincinnati
Marvin Bagley III, Duke
Wendell Carter Jr., Duke
Yante Maten, Georgia
Nick King, Middle Tennessee
Jordan Murphy, Minnesota
Luke Maye, North Carolina
Mike Daum, South Dakota State
Robert Williams, Texas A&M
Awarded annually, the Karl Malone Award recognizes the top power forwards in Division I men's college basketball. The honor is in its fourth year of existence, with previous winners including Johnathan Motley from Baylor, Georges Niang from Iowa State and Montrezl Harrell from Louisville.
"I don't know if there has been a more consistent first year player new to a program than Nick King," head coach Kermit Davis said. "When you average what he's averaged and rebound the ball right at double figures every night and really impact winning on your team the way he has you belong in an elite group of college basketball players like this."
After not being considered among the preseason watch list of 21 players, King's consistent season, averaging 21.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, skyrocketed him to being one of 10 candidates in Thursday's release.
Despite his high usage for the Blue Raiders, King's efficiency is also through roof. He is currently shooting 48.9 percent from the floor, 35.8 percent from behind the arc and 77.1 percent from the free throw line.
King has also been named to the Lute Olsen Player of the Year mid-season watch list, along with winning Conference USA player of the week three times.
"It's an honor and I just thank God for allowing me to keep earning this type of recognition and it just shows that all the hard work is paying off," King said. "I couldn't be in this position without my teammates. They always find me in the right spots and even when I'm off they tell me to keep shooting the ball. The teammates and coaches that I have just continue to push me to be the best that I can be."
The Karl Malone Award is named after the legendary collegiate and professional basketball player. Nicknamed 'The Mailman', Malone attended Louisiana Tech where he led the Bulldogs to a Sweet 16 appearance and averaged 18.7 points and 9.3 rebounds a game in his three years.
Professionally, Malone has a resume' worthy of his Hall of Fame status. In his 19 seasons in the NBA, Malone is a 14-time NBA All-Star, 11-time All-NBA First Teamer, a member of the NBA's 50th anniversary All-Time Team and a two-time Olympic Gold Medal Winner.
Other semi-finalists include Duke's Marvin Bagley III, Arizona's DeAndre Ayton and North Carolina's Luke Maye.
The committee will narrow down the list to five finalists in March and the winner will be honored at ESPN's College Basketball Awards on Friday, April 6, 2018.
2018 KARL MALONE POWER FORWARD OF THE YEAR AWARD CANDIDATES
DeAndre Ayton, Arizona
Gary Clark Jr., Cincinnati
Marvin Bagley III, Duke
Wendell Carter Jr., Duke
Yante Maten, Georgia
Nick King, Middle Tennessee
Jordan Murphy, Minnesota
Luke Maye, North Carolina
Mike Daum, South Dakota State
Robert Williams, Texas A&M
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