University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Kyle III Listed to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Watch List
November 01, 2024 | Men's Basketball
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – UCLA junior William Kyle III has been selected to the 20-person watch list for this season's Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, which honors the nation's top collegiate center.
Kyle III transferred to UCLA in the summer of 2024 after having spent his first two years excelling at South Dakota State. Standing at 6-foot-9 and hailing from Bellevue, Neb., Kyle III averaged 11.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 67 games over the past two seasons. He played in all 67 games for South Dakota State in those two years, scoring at least 10 points in 39 games.
As a sophomore last season, Kyle III averaged 13.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. He led South Dakota State in rebounding (6.6 rpg) and blocks (55) and was second on the team in scoring (13.1 ppg). He shot 62.3 percent from the field in 35 games and helped South Dakota State to a 22-12 overall record and NCAA Tournament berth. Kyle III was honored as the Summit League Defensive Player of the Year and was one of six players in the conference to earn Summit League All-Defensive Team recognition.
The college basketball positional watch lists are compiled each season by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. As the season progresses, the list will remain fluid to allow players the opportunity to move on and off the list until the final five are selected. The list will narrow down to 10 players in early February, with the final five to be announced in March. The award winner and presentation details will be revealed at the Final Four next April in San Antonio.
The 2024-25 season will mark the 11th year in which the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award recognizes the nation's top center. The award honors for UCLA standout Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who helped lead the Bruins' program to three consecutive NCAA titles from 1967-1969. A three-time National College Player of the Year selection while at UCLA (then known as Lew Alcindor), Abdul-Jabbar was a six-time NBA Champion, six-time NBA Most Valuable Player, two-time NBA Finals MVP and a 19-time NBA All-Star.
In each of the past two college basketball seasons, Purdue center Zach Edey won the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award. Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe earned the award in 2022. Iowa's Luka Garza was honored as the award recipient in 2020 and 2021.
For more information on this year's Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award and all of the latest updates, log onto www.hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu on X and Instagram.
UCLA will open the regular season against Rider University on Monday, Nov. 4. Game time in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom is 7:30 p.m. (PT). The Bruins' game will be nationally televised on FS1.
Preseason Watch List, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award
| Player | School | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Clifford Omoruyi | Alabama | 6-11 |
| Motiejus Krivas | Arizona | 7-2 |
| Jayden Quaintance | Arizona State | 6-9 |
| Jonas Aidoo | Arkansas | 6-11 |
| Ryan Kalkbrenner | Creighton | 7-1 |
| Khaman Maluach | Duke | 7-2 |
| Oumar Ballo | Indiana | 7-0 |
| Hunter Dickinson | Kansas | 7-2 |
| Amari Williams | Kentucky | 7-0 |
| Derik Queen | Maryland | 6-10 |
| Vladislav Goldin | Michigan | 7-1 |
| Dawson Garcia | Minnesota | 6-11 |
| Malik Dia | Ole Miss | 6-9 |
| Robbie Avila | Saint Louis | 6-10 |
| Mitchell Saxen | Saint Mary's | 6-10 |
| Maxime Raynaud | Stanford | 7-1 |
| Eddie Lampkin Jr. | Syracuse | 6-11 |
| William Kyle III | UCLA | 6-9 |
| Samson Johnson | UConn | 6-10 |
| Efton Reid III | Wake Forest | 7-0 |
