SPRINGFIELD, MASS. — The Basketball Hall of Fame announced today that Xavier University graduate student Jack Nunge is among the Top 10 candidates for the 2023 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award. Named after Class of 1995 Hall of Famer and three-time NCAA Champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the annual honor in its ninth year recognizes the top center in Division I men’s college basketball.
2023 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Candidates*
Armando Bacot (North Carolina), Oumar Ballo (Arizona), Hunter Dickinson (Michigan), Zach Edey (Purdue), Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton), Jack Nunge (Xavier), Cliff Omoruyi (Rutgers), Adama Sanogo (UConn), Joel Soriano (St. John’s), Oscar Tshiebwe (Kentucky).
*Players can play their way onto and off the list at any point in the 2022-2023 season.
Nunge, who was named Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team by the league coaches, is fourth on the team in scoring at 14.8 ppg., which is 15th in the BIG EAST, and second on the team in rebounding at 7.9 rpg., which is fifth in the BIG EAST. Nunge leads the team and is ranked second in the BIG EAST in 3-point percentage at .441 (30-68) after hitting 8-11 (.727) over the last three games. Nunge has been named BIG EAST Conference Player of the Week twice since the start of league play.
Earlier this week Xavier graduate student Souley Boum was announced as a Top 10 candidate for the Bob Cousy Award and junior Colby Jones was listed as a Top 10 candidate for the Julius Erving Award. Xavier is the only school represented with a Top 10 candidate for the Bob Cousy Award, the Julius Erving Award and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award.
Fans can support their favorite players in the remaining rounds by participating in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, starting today 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 Abdul-Jabbar and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. The winner of the 2023 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award will be presented on a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the “Naismith 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 Karl Malone Award (Power Forward), in addition to the Women’s Starting Five.
COURTESY XAVIER ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
