UCF’s Tacko Fall Named a Finalist for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award

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University of Central Florida center Tacko Fall, right, rises up to slam home a dunk during an 86-64 win over the University of South Florida at CFE Arena on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017. (Photo by Daniel Castrillon / New Day Review)

The difference between University of Central Florida center Tacko Fall‘s game between his first and second seasons is night and day. Fall, who averaged 7.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game, has been named a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award. In his second year at UCF and his first under first-year head coach Johnny Dawkins, Fall is averaging 12.2 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game in 22 games.

Fall joins nine others players from schools like the University of California, Los Angeles, Gonzaga University and the University of Wisconsin. Fall is the only player from the American Athletic Conference.

At 7-foot-6, Fall is leading the 10 finalists in blocks and field-goal percentage (0.757). His rebounding average is also good enough for second-highest among his fellow finalists.

Of the 10 finalists currently named, five will move onto another round in March. On April 7, the winner will be announced at ESPN’s College Basketball Awards.

School Player
Brigham Young University Eric Mika
University of Central Florida Tacko Fall
Creighton University Justin Patton
Unviersity of Georgia Yante Maten
Gonzaga University Przemek Karnowski
Lehigh University Tim Kempton
Saint Mary’s College Jock Landale
University of California, Los Angeles Thomas Welsh
Washington State University Josh Hawkinson
University of Wisconsin Ethan Happ