NEW YORK - Oswin Erhunmwunse from Creighton, Sananda Fru from Marquette, and Villanova's Luigi Suigo were named to the preseason watchlist for the 2027 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award - presented annually to the top center in NCAA Division I men’s college basketball.
Erhunmwunse begins his first season at Creighton, after playing the previous two years at Providence. Last year, he averaged 6.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, while ranking second in the BIG EAST, with 70 blocked shots. A 2024-25 BIG EAST All-Freshman team selection, the 6-10 junior recorded 445 points, 454 rebounds and 122 blocked shots over the past two seasons.
Fru is a five-star ranked transfer from Louisville. The 6-11 senior appeared in 35 games, averaging 9.0 points and 6.1 rebounds while connecting on better than 75% of his shot attempts in 2025-26. Fru registered four double-doubles on the season while blocking a team-best 50 shots last season. His 1.43 blocks per game ranked sixth in the ACC.
Suigo enters his first season of collegiate basketball in 2026-27. Originally from Tradate, in the Varese province of Italy, the 7-3 freshman arrives at Villanova after a successful playing career in Europe, averaging 7.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in 18 minutes per game for BC Mega Basket in the Adriatic League in 2025-26.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in each of the three rounds starting on Friday, October 30. In February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2027 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award will be narrowed to 10, then to five in March. In late March, the five finalists will be presented to the Hall of Fame’s selection committees, where the winner will be selected. The selection committees for the awards are composed of top college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
The winners of the 2027 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the four other members of the Men’s Starting Five. Additional men's basketball awards being presented include the Bob Cousy Award (Point Guard), Jerry West Award (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving Award (Small Forward), and the Karl Malone Award (Power Forward).
The BIG EAST has been well-represented on the Hoop Hall Starting Five watchlists.
Bob Cousy Award: Silas Demary Jr. (UConn); Nigel James Jr. (Marquette); Quinn Ellis (St. John's)
Jerry West Award: Braylon Mullins (UConn); Miles Byrd (Providence); Tyler Perkins (Villanova)
Julius Erving Award: Colben Landrew (UConn); Tounde Yessoufou (St. John's)
Karl Malone Award: Na'jai Hines (UConn); Keyshawn Hall (St. John's)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award: Oswin Erhunmwunse (Creighton); Sananda Fru (Marquette); Luigi Suigo (Villanova)