Clifford Omoruyi Named to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Watch List
11/1/2024 12:22:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Annual award recognizes the top center in all of college basketball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama men's basketball center Clifford Omoruyi is one of 20 candidates named to the 2025 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Watch List, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced on Friday. The award recognizes the top center in Division I men's college basketball.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played for legendary coach and Hall of Famer John Wooden at the University of California-Los Angeles from 1966-1969. He is a three-time NCAA Champion who earned numerous accolades including three-time Final Four Most Outstanding Player, three-time National College Player of the Year and three-time Consensus First-Team All-American (1967-1969). As a professional, Abdul-Jabbar is a six-time NBA Champion, six-time NBA Most Valuable Player, two-time NBA Finals MVP, 19-time NBA All-Star and the league's all-time leading scorer. In 2021, the NBA created the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award, which honors players who are making strides in the fight for social justice.
Clifford Omoruyi Notes
- Becomes the first Alabama player since Charles Bediako in 2022 to be named to the watch list
- One of four SEC players on the 2025 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Watch List
- Named a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award finalist in 2023
- Scored 1,251 points throughout his career at Rutgers
- A Big Ten All-Defensive Team honoree in back-to-back seasons
- Became the first Rutgers player to lead the team in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots since Keith Hughes did so in the 1990-1991 season (10.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 2.9 bpg)
- Ranks fourth all-time in Rutgers program history in career field goal percentage (.549) and rebounds (933) and sixth in blocks (221)
- Recorded 93 blocks in 2024, which ranked sixth for most by a Rutgers player in a single season and the most by a Big ten player since 2018
As the season progresses, the list will remain fluid, giving 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 being announced in March. The award winner and presentation details will be revealed at the Final Four in San Antonio. Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies in each of the three rounds. The player who receives the most votes will earn an additional vote from the selection committee.
