Garza Named to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Watch List

RobHowe

Administrator
UI Press Release

Garza Named to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Watch List



IOWA CITY, Iowa -- University of Iowa junior Luka Garza is one of 20 players in the country to be named to the 2020 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Watch List.



Named after three-time NCAA Champion, three-time NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, and three-time National Player of the Year Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the annual honor in its sixth year recognizes the top center in Division I men's college basketball.

Garza (6-foot-11, 245 pounds) has put up numbers that few Hawkeyes have done through their sophomore season. Garza joins Aaron White and Jess Settles as the only Hawkeyes to total more than 800 points and 350 rebounds through their sophomore year. Last season, Garza tallied 20 or more points a team-best eight times, and ranked second on the squad in scoring (13.1) and fourth in rebounding (4.5). The Washington, D.C. native was an honorable mention all-conference honoree and was voted the Most Valuable Player of the 2K Empire Classic in New York City.

The list will be narrowed down to 10 in mid-February and then five finalists will be selected in March that will be presented to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the selection committee. The winner of this award will be presented at the sixth annual ESPN College Basketball Awards Show live from Los Angeles on April 10.

Iowa will hit the court for the first time Nov. 4, hosting Lindsey Wilson College in an exhibition on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena at 7 p.m. (CT).
 
Kudos to Luka!
In pretty rare air with Whitey and Settles his first two years.

And that he was coming back from playing with a mini b-ball in his gut and sprained ankle last year - kid just works his ass off.
 
I really think Garza is poised for a huge year. Everyone keeps talking about Joe W becoming the man and growing into the leader of the team but I think Garza will have a big say in both departments this year as well.
 
I like Luka Garza a lot and think he's had a great first two years as a Hawkeye. But being the top center in the country this year? I dunno bout that. Still it's great to be on a list of 20 being recognized as one of the best.

If Luka were to win this award he'd have to take a quantum leap this year. I hope he does.
 
I'm blown away by the defensive improvement he's shown. If he's going to play like this on both ends of the court all year, and if Bohannon plays, that's a pretty damn good shooting team. Bohannon, CJ, and Wieakamp might be the best trifecta of 3 pointers that the Hawkeyes have ever had.
 
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