SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Gonzaga's Graham Ike was named one of the 10 candidates for the 2026 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Thursday.
 
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 forwards in Division I men's college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates in November, which has now been narrowed to 10.
 
Ike is the nation's leading scorer among active players and is second in career rebounds. The Colorado native is the only active player with 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Ike ranks first in the WCC in scoring (19.0), second in rebounds (8.6), and second in field goal percentage (.555). In conference games, he is first in scoring (21.9), second in rebounds (9.0), and first in field goal percentage (.642).
 
Malone attended Louisiana Tech University due to its close proximity to his hometown of Summerfield, Louisiana. He led the Bulldogs to a Sweet 16 appearance and earned All-Southland honors in his three seasons while averaging 18.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Malone achieved great success during his 19 seasons in the NBA as a 14-time NBA All-Star (1988-98, 2000-02), 11-time All-NBA First Team player (1989-99) and a member of the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. He also won two Olympic gold medals (1992, 1996).
 
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting starting on Friday. In March, the Top 10 list will be narrowed to just five, and in late March, the five finalists will be presented to Malone and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committee for the Karl Malone Award is composed of top men's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
 
The winner of the 2026 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 (Small Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center).
 
Previous winners of the Karl Malone Award  include Johni Broome, Auburn (2025), Jaedon LeDee, San Diego State (2024), Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana (2023), Keegan Murray, Iowa (2022), Timme (2021), Obi Toppin, Dayton (2020), Zion Williamson, Duke (2019), Deandre Ayton, Arizona (2018), Johnathan Motley, Baylor (2017), Georges Niang, Iowa State (2016) and Montrezl Harrell, Louisville (2015).
 
For more information on the 2026 Karl Malone Award and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu and #MaloneAward on X and Instagram.
 
Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award
NAME                                  SCHOOL
Koa Peat                             Arizona
Cameron Boozer              Duke
Graham Ike                       Gonzaga
Joshua Jefferson              Iowa State
Malik Reneau                    Miami
Yaxel Lendeborg               Michigan
Caleb Wilson                     North Carolina
Trey Kaufman-Renn         Purdue
JT Toppin                            Texas Tech
Alex Karaban                     UConn