MM 2.7: Jalen Smith named top-10 candidate for Karl Malone Award

No. 9 Maryland men’s basketball forward Jalen Smith has been playing at an All-American level this season, and his high-level performance has him in the running for a prestigious college basketball honor.

Smith was named one of the 10 candidates for the 2020 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award, the Basketball Hall of Fame announced Thursday.

Smith and Michigan State’s Xavier Tillman are the only two players from the Big Ten to remain in the running for the honors. Ohio State’s Kaleb Wesson, Penn State’s Lamar Stevens and Purdue’s Trevion Williams — all of which were on the award’s preseason watch list — were not on the narrowed list.

The Baltimore native has produced in conference play, averaging 17.4 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.6 blocks while shooting 58 percent from the field and 51 percent from deep — which leads the Big Ten.

On the season, the sophomore has averaged 15.2 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.

Five finalists for the award will be selected in March, and the winner will be presented at the College Basketball Awards on April 10. If he earns the honor, Smith will be the first Terp to win the award, which was introduced in 2015.

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