TUCSON, Ariz. - The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the preseason watch list for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year award and Arizona's Keshad Johnson was among the 20 players included on the list. The award recognizes the top power forward in men's college basketball each year. 
 
In his first season with the Wildcats, Johnson made his McKale debut on Oct. 20 in an exhibition game against Lewis-Clark State and tallied 19 points – on 8 of 8 shooting from the floor – to go along with five assists, three rebounds and four steals. Johnson spent the previous four seasons at San Diego State University and helped lead the Aztecs to an appearance in the national title game last season.  
 
Players are able to play their way on or off the list throughout the season. The Basketball Hall of Fame plans to narrow down the list to 10 players in later January and then name five finalists in March. The winner of the award will be announced at the Final Four in Phoenix. For more information, visit www.hoophallawards.com. 
 
Arizona has only had two players ever go on to win one of the Basketball Hall of Fame positional awards – Stanley Johnson in 2015 as the top Small Forward and Deandre Ayton in 2018 as the top Power Forward. 
 
Johnson and the Wildcats are back in action on Oct. 30 when they host New Mexico Highlands in an exhibition contest. Tip-off is slated for 7:00 p.m. PT and is only available via online stream at arizonawildcats.com/live. 
 
Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Preseason Watch List 
Adem Bona, UCLA 
Alex Karaban, Uconn 
Bryce Hopkins, Providence 
Coleman Hawkins, Illinois 
DaRon Holmes II , Dayton 
Drew Pember, UNC-Asheville 
Enrique Freeman , Akron 
Fousseyni Traore , BYU 
Graham Ike, Gonzaga 
Grant Nelson, Alabama 
J'Wan Roberts, Houston 
Jevon Porter, Pepperdine 
Julian Reese , Maryland 
Keshad Johnson , Arizona 
Kyle Filipowski, Duke 
Norchad Omier, Miami 
Oso Ighodaro, Marquette 
Tolu Smith, Mississippi State 
Trevon Brazile, Arkansas 
Tristan Da Silva, Colorado 
 
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