FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas sophomore Daniel Gafford is one of 10 candidates for the 2019 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Friday.
The award, in its fifth year, recognizes the top centers in college basketball. Gafford is averaging 16.9 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in his second season with the Razorbacks. He finished the month of December averaging a double-double at 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds.
Through nine SEC games, Gafford is shooting 65 percent from the floor and has scored 20-plus points three times, including a career-high 32 against LSU. During Arkansas' four-game SEC win streak, he's scoring 18.8 points and grabbing eight rebounds.
In March, five finalists will be named and the winner will be presented at The College Basketball Awards in Los Angeles on April 12.
2019 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award Candidates
Daniel Gafford – Arkansas
Ethan Happ – Wisconsin
Bruno Fernando - Maryland
Charles Bassey – Western Kentucky
Nick Ward – Michigan State
Nick Perkins – Buffalo
Nico Carvacho – Colorado State
Jessie Govan – Georgetown
Moses Brown – UCLA
Nathan Knight – William & Mary