From Duke Comms:
Duke men’s basketball sophomore Kyle Filipowski has been named to the midseason top-10 list for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award and the late-season top-20 for the 2024 John R. Wooden Award, presented by Principal.
A Preseason All-American and ACC Preseason Player of the Year, Filipowski has continued to be a top player nationally, improving in nearly all statistical categories – including already surpassing his freshman block and assist totals. A native of Westtown, New York, the 7-footer is shooting more than 50% from the field and nearly 40% from behind the arc, averaging 17.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.
After 16 double-doubles as a freshman, Filipowski has already added seven to his career total this season, including a strong performance at Pittsburgh on Jan. 9 in which he finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds while making 11-of-12 field goals, including all four threes. The shooting performance marked the best by a Blue Devil with at least 10 attempts since Zion Williamson finished 13-of-13 against Syracuse on March 14, 2019.
Filipowski has scored at least 10 points in all but three games this season, has reached at least 20 points seven separate times and recorded a career-high 30 points alongside 13 rebounds against Georgia Tech in mid-January – the first Blue Devil to record a 30-point double-double since Vernon Carey Jr. tallied 31 and 12 versus California on Nov. 21, 2019. He added four assists, two blocks and two steals against the Yellow Jackets, all without committing a turnover, becoming the first Duke player with a 30-point double-double and no turnovers in the past 40 seasons.
Filipowski was named the Lute Olson National Player of the Week following his performances against Pittsburgh and Georgia Tech and was tabbed ACC Player of the Week on Dec. 18., after pouring in 28 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and adding eight assists against Hofstra – finishing two assists shy of the sixth all-time triple-double by a Blue Devil.
Named after Class of 2010 Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Karl Malone, the annual honor, in its 10th year, recognizes the top power forward in Division I men’s college basketball. Filipowski is aiming to become the second Blue Devil freshman in the last six years to win the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year award, after Williamson was selected as the winner in 2019.
Chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts based on their performances during the 2023-24 season thus far, the Wooden late-season list consists of 20 student-athletes who are front-runners for the sport’s most prestigious honor. Players not chosen to the late season list are still eligible for the Wooden Award National Ballot. The National Ballot consists of 15 top players who have proven to their universities that they meet or exceed the qualifications of the Wooden Award. Nearly 1,000 voters will rank in order 10 of those 15 players when voting opens prior to the NCAA Tournament and will allow voters to take into consideration performance during early round games.
The Wooden Award All American Team will be announced the week of the “Elite Eight” round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2024 John R. Wooden Award will be presented by Principal following the NCAA Tournament in April.
For the Karl Malone Award, fans can support their favorite players in the remaining rounds by participating in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, starting Friday, Feb. 2, on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process. In March, five finalists will be presented to Malone and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. The winner of the 2024 Karl Malone Award will be presented on a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the Men’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy Award (Point Guard), Jerry West Award (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving Award (Small Forward) and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center), in addition to the Women’s Starting Five.
