25 contenders for the Karl Malone Award as the nation’s best power forward

The past two seasons the winner of the Karl Malone award for the nation’s best power forward, have gone on to win National Player of the Year — Duke’s Zion Williamson and Dayton’s Obi Toppin. With another batch of talented big men, it could happen again this season.

On this week’s March Madness 365, Andy Katz ranks his top 25 contenders for the Karl Malone award headed into the 2020-21 season. This episode also features ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla, Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham and Howard’s Makur Maker and Kenny Blakeney. Turner Sports’ Chad “March Chadness” Aycock also stops by to discuss potential impact freshmen heading into the season with Katz. 

Here are the players who have won the Karl Malone award in past seasons:

Here are some of the top contenders for the Karl Malone award, according to Andy Katz: 

25. Scottie Barnes — Florida State, Freshman

Scottie Barnes will be another highly-touted freshman to join Leonard Hamilton and company in Tallahassee. Barnes is a five-star recruit out of the Montverde Academy standing at 6’9″ and 227 pounds.

24. Greg Brown — Texas, Freshman 

Greg Brown is another freshman looking to make an impact. Hailing out of Austin, Brown stands at 6’9″ and 195 pounds and chose Texas over the likes of Memphis, Auburn and Kentucky. 

23. Evan Mobley — Southern Cal, Freshman

This 7’0 big man will try to stand out in a Pac-12 that is loaded with talent this season. Mobley is a five-star recruit, who chose USC over other appealing offers like rival UCLA, Stanford, Alabama and Washington. 

22. Makur Maker — Howard, Freshman 

Maker has already made his mark on the game of college basketball, deciding to attend an HBCU. Maker, 6’11” and 235 pounds, will bring a lot of attention to the Bison’s campus as he looks to establish himself as one of the best power forwards and freshmen in the country. 

SMALL FORWARDS: 15 contenders for the Julius Erving Award as the nation’s best small forward

21. Hasahn French — Saint Louis, Senior

Hasahn French is the first non-freshman to crack this list, as he’ll be looking to play a key role for the Billikens his senior year. Coming off of a season where he averaged a double-double, 12.4 points and 10.4 boards a game, French will be looking to be one of the best forwards in the A-10. 

20. E.J. Liddell — Ohio State,  Sophomore

Liddell will look to make a big transition from his freshman year to his sophomore year, as he’ll be paired with Harvard transfer Seth Towns in the Buckeyes’ frontcourt. Liddell averaged 6.7 points and 3.8 boards per game last season. 

19. K.J. Buffen — Ole Miss, Junior

Ole Miss needs K.J. Buffen to have a big year…