Per Duke Comms:
Duke men’s basketball sophomore Kyle Filipowski been named a finalist for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award, as announced by The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Thursday.
Filipowski is one of five finalists, joined by Akron’s Enrique Freeman, Dayton’s DaRon Holmes II, San Diego State’s Jaedon Ledee and Utah State’s Great Osobor.
A native of Westtown, New York, Filipowski was named a Preseason All-American and ACC Preseason Player of the Year and has improved in nearly all statistical categories as a sophomore. He has already surpassed his freshman assist total with 86, has blocked 47 shots – nearly double his freshman total – is shooting 50.7 percent from the field and is knocking in 3-pointers at a 35.4 percent clip, all en route to an average of 16.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.
After 16 double-doubles as a freshman, Filipowski has already added eight 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 seven games this season, has reached at least 20 points 10 separate times and amassed 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.
Among ACC leaders, Filipowski currently ranks 10th in scoring (16.5 ppg), seventh in rebounding (8.1 rpg), fifth in blocked shots (1.6 bpg) and fifth in field goal percentage (.507). The 7-footer is one of just three players on power-six conference teams averaging at least 16 points, eight rebounds and 2.5 assists per game and the only one standing at least 6-foot-eight inches
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.
Fans can support their favorite players in the remaining rounds by participating in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, starting Friday, March 8, on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
Later this month, the finalists will be presented to Malone and McClain and the Hall of Fame’s selection committees. The Selection Committees for the Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards are composed of top men’s and women’s college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
The winner of the 2024 Malone and McClain Awards will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men’s and Women’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy and Nancy Lieberman Awards (Point Guard), Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards (Small Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie Awards (Center).
