SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Maryland sophomore Bruno Fernando has been named one of five finalists for the 2019 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award.
Fernando is looking to become the first Maryland player to win a Naismith national award since Greivis Vasquez earned the Bob Cousy Award (best point guard) in 2010, and the first Maryland player in history to win the Abdul-Jabbar Award.
The winner of the 2019 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award will be determined by a combination of fan votes and input from the Basketball Hall of Fame's selection committee. Fans are encouraged to visit www.hoophallawards.com/ to cast their votes March 8-29.
The other four finalists are Jesse Govan (Georgetown), Charles Bassey (Western Kentucky), Nathan Knight (William & Mary) and Ethan Happ(Wisconsin).
Fernando has been one of the most dominant players in the country this season, ranking among the nation's best in a number of categories. The Luanda, Angola ranks sixth nationally and second in the Big Ten with 19 double-doubles and is ninth nationally and first in the Big Ten shooting 63.3% from the field.
He also ranks 12th nationally and second in the Big Ten with 10.5 rebounds/g, including 11.5 rebounds/g in conference play. He is also third in the Big Ten in blocks/g (2.0) and is shooting an astounding 83-percent from the free throw line in conference action (fourth in the Big Ten).
Fernando's 14 double-doubles in conference action lead the Big Ten, with Happ totaling 10.
Learn more about Bruno on and off the court in this Big Ten Network "The Journey" piece: Part 1. Part 2.
A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 21 student-athletes in October, which was narrowed to 10 candidates in February and now just five finalists. This month, the finalists will be presented to Mr. Abdul-Jabbar and the Hall of Fame's selection committee.
The winner of the 2019 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award will be presented at The College Basketball Awards presented by Wendy's in Los Angeles, CA on Friday, April 12, 2019, along with the other four members of the Naismith Starting 5. Additional awards being presented and receiving support from Eaton Ephesus Lighting include the Bob Cousy Point Guard Award, the Jerry West Shooting Guard Award, the Julius Erving Small Forward Award and the Karl Malone Power Forward Award. Additional information about the telecast will be released by ESPN at a later date.
Previous winners of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award include Angel Delgado, Seton Hall (2018), Przemek Karnowski, Gonzaga (2017), Jakob Poeltl, Utah (2016) and Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin (2015).
Fernando is looking to become the first Maryland player to win a Naismith national award since Greivis Vasquez earned the Bob Cousy Award (best point guard) in 2010, and the first Maryland player in history to win the Abdul-Jabbar Award.
The winner of the 2019 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award will be determined by a combination of fan votes and input from the Basketball Hall of Fame's selection committee. Fans are encouraged to visit www.hoophallawards.com/ to cast their votes March 8-29.
The other four finalists are Jesse Govan (Georgetown), Charles Bassey (Western Kentucky), Nathan Knight (William & Mary) and Ethan Happ(Wisconsin).
Fernando has been one of the most dominant players in the country this season, ranking among the nation's best in a number of categories. The Luanda, Angola ranks sixth nationally and second in the Big Ten with 19 double-doubles and is ninth nationally and first in the Big Ten shooting 63.3% from the field.
He also ranks 12th nationally and second in the Big Ten with 10.5 rebounds/g, including 11.5 rebounds/g in conference play. He is also third in the Big Ten in blocks/g (2.0) and is shooting an astounding 83-percent from the free throw line in conference action (fourth in the Big Ten).
Fernando's 14 double-doubles in conference action lead the Big Ten, with Happ totaling 10.
Learn more about Bruno on and off the court in this Big Ten Network "The Journey" piece: Part 1. Part 2.
A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 21 student-athletes in October, which was narrowed to 10 candidates in February and now just five finalists. This month, the finalists will be presented to Mr. Abdul-Jabbar and the Hall of Fame's selection committee.
The winner of the 2019 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award will be presented at The College Basketball Awards presented by Wendy's in Los Angeles, CA on Friday, April 12, 2019, along with the other four members of the Naismith Starting 5. Additional awards being presented and receiving support from Eaton Ephesus Lighting include the Bob Cousy Point Guard Award, the Jerry West Shooting Guard Award, the Julius Erving Small Forward Award and the Karl Malone Power Forward Award. Additional information about the telecast will be released by ESPN at a later date.
Previous winners of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award include Angel Delgado, Seton Hall (2018), Przemek Karnowski, Gonzaga (2017), Jakob Poeltl, Utah (2016) and Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin (2015).
