Mika named a finalist for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award

SPRINGFIELD, MASS. – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today that BYU sophomore Eric Mika is one of 10 watch list finalists for the 2017 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award. Named after Hall of Famer and three-time NCAA Champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the annual honor in its third year recognizes the top centers in men’s college basketball. A national committee comprised of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates in October, which has now been narrowed to just 10.

“Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is unquestionably one of the most accomplished centers of all-time,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “His mindful and spirited approach to the game put him in a class of his own at both the collegiate and professional level and we appreciate his insights as we look to recognize the best centers in the game today.”

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played for legendary coach John Wooden at the University of California, Los Angeles from 1966-1969. He is a three-time NCAA Champion who earned numerous accolades including three-time Final Four Most Outstanding Player, three-time National College Player of the Year and three-time Consensus First-Team All-American (1967-1969). Abdul-Jabbar is a six-time NBA Champion and a1995 inductee of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Mika has led BYU to a 16-8 record while averaging 20.5 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks and shooting 53.8 percent from the field and 78.3 percent from the free-throw line. The Alpine, Utah, native is first in West Coast Conference in scoring, blocks and double-doubles and is second in rebounding. One of only three players in the nation averaging 20-plus points and 9-plus rebounds, Mika is among the top 50 in the NCAA in scoring, rebounding and blocks and is seventh in double-doubles with 14. Mika also leads the nation in free-throw attempts and is second in free-throws made.

In March, five finalists will be presented to Mr. Abdul-Jabbar and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee for the 2017 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award. The winner of the 2017 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award will be presented at ESPN’s College Basketball Awards, presented by Wendy’s, live from The Novo by Microsoft in downtown Los Angeles on Friday, April 7, 2017. Broadcast information will be released at a later date.

Previous winners of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award include Jakob Poeltl, Utah (2016) and Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin (2015). For more information on the 2017 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, log onto www.HoophallAwards.com. 

*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2016-17 season*

About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was invented, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level – professional, collegiate and high school, for both men and women on the global stage.

For more information

Visit us on the web: www.hoophall.com or www.hoophallawards.com 

… on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BHOF

… on Twitter/Instagram: @hoophall #KareemAward #CBBAwards

… or call 1-877-4-HOOPLA

Basketball Hall of Fame Media Contact

Nicole Taylor, Position Sports
480-861-2442
nicole.taylor@positionsports.com

ESPN Media Contact

Keri Potts, Sr. Director of Communications
keri.a.potts@espn.com