CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia’s Thijs De Ridder was one of 20 players named to the preseason watch list for the 2027 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Thursday (Oct. 29).
The annual Karl Malone Award, named after the Class of 2010 Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, celebrates its 13th year by recognizing the top power forward in NCAA Division I men’s college basketball.
De Ridder earned All-ACC first-team honors last season after leading Virginia in scoring (15.6 ppg) and rebounding (6.2 rpg). In 2026-27, De Ridder joined Malcolm Brogdon as the lone Cavaliers to garner preseason ACC Player of the Year honors. Brogdon was selected as co-Player of the Year prior to the 2015-16 season.
Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting starting Friday, October 30. In February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2027 Karl Malone Award will be narrowed to 10, then to five in March. In late March, the five finalists will be presented to Malone and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee, where the winner will be selected. The selection committee for the Karl Malone Award is composed of top men’s and women’s college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
The winner of the 2027 Malone Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy (Point Guard), Jerry West (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving (Small Forward) and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center).
Previous winners of the Karl Malone Award include Cameron Boozer, Duke (2026), Johni Broome, Auburn (2025), Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana (2023), Keegan Murray, Iowa (2022), Drew Timme, Gonzaga (2021), Obi Toppin, Dayton (2020), Zion Williamson, Duke (2019), Deandre Ayton, Arizona (2018), Georges Niang, Iowa State (2016), and Montrezl Harrell, Louisville (2015).
For more information on the 2027 Karl Malone Award and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu and #MaloneAward on X and Instagram.
2027 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Candidates
Paulius Murauskas, Arizona State
Mikka Muurinen, Arkansas
Jaxon Kohler, BYU
Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje, Duke
Alex Condon, Florida
Braden Huff, Gonzaga
Joseph Tugler, Houston
David Mirkovic, Illinois
Aiden Sherrell, Indiana
Keanu Dawes, Kansas
Malik Reneau, Miami
J.P. Estrella, Michigan
Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, Minnesota
Caden Pierce, Purdue
Keyshawn Hall, St. John’s
Xavier Edmonds, TCU
David Punch, Texas
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Na’jai Hines, UConn
Thijs De Ridder, Virginia
About the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and celebrating the game of basketball at every level—men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches, and contributors worldwide. The Hall of Fame Museum is home to nearly 500 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Welcoming close to 200,000 visitors each year, the museum invites fans to learn about the game, experience interactive exhibits, and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game's elite, the Hall of Fame also operates more than 100 high school and collegiate games annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum, and events, visit hoophall.com or follow @hoophallu.