The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
10.30.2026 | Men's Basketball
Junior Matas Vokietaitis is one of 20 players on watch list for award that recognizes the top center in men’s college basketball.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — University of Texas Men's Basketball junior Matas Vokietaitis is one of 20 preseason watch list candidates for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced Friday. Named after the Class of 1995 Hall of Famer and three-time NCAA Champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the annual honor now in its 13th year recognizes the top center in Division I men's college basketball.
The list will be narrowed down to 10 players in February with plans to announce the five finalists in March. The winner of the 2027 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date. The list will remain fluid, and players will have the ability to play themselves on or off the list until the five finalists are selected.
Vokietaitis returns for his second season at Texas and his third year in college basketball. A 2026 NABC All-Gulf District Second Team selection, he played and started all 36 games last year and led the team in blocks (33) and ranked second in scoring (15.6 ppg) and rebounding (7.1 rpg).
Vokietaitis reached double figures in scoring in 31 of the 36 games last season, including eight 20-point performances, while hitting double digits in rebounds six times and posting six double-doubles. In his four NCAA Tournament contests last year, he averaged 16.0 points and a team-best 8.8 rebounds per game.
No. 7/7 Texas opens the 2026-27 regular season with a home contest against Chicago State on Monday, Nov. 2. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. Central in Moody Center, and the contest will be televised nationally by SEC Network.
For more information on the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award and the latest updates, visit www.hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu and #KareemAward on X and Instagram.
2026-27 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award Preseason Watch List
|
Player |
School |
|
Flory Bidunga |
Louisville |
|
Rueben Chinyelu |
Florida |
|
Somto Cyril |
Miami (Fla.) |
|
Massamba Diop |
Gonzaga |
|
Oswin Erhunmwunse |
Creighton |
|
Sananda Fru |
Marquette |
|
Johann Grunloh |
Virginia |
|
Tomislav Ivisic |
Illinois |
|
Daniel Jacobsen |
Purdue |
|
Motiejus Krivas |
Arizona |
|
Andrew McKeever |
Iowa |
|
Malachi Moreno |
Kentucky |
|
Patrick Ngongba II |
Duke |
|
Pharrel Payne |
Maryland |
|
Marcis Ponder |
Florida State |
|
Luigi Suigo |
Villanova |
|
Moustapha Thiam |
Michigan |
|
Jaden Toombs |
SMU |
|
TEXAS |
|
|
Nolan Winter |
Wisconsin |
