St. John's University Athletics
Joel Soriano Named to Watch List for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award
2/10/2023 12:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
St. John’s senior center is one of the four BIG EAST players named to the award’s watch list
QUEENS, N.Y. – St. John's senior big man Joel Soriano has been chosen as one of 10 played named to the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, presented annually by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame to the top center in the nation.
Soriano earned a spot on this prestigious list of finalists alongside three other BIG EAST players, Connecticut's Adama Sanogo, Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner and Xavier's Jack Nunge. A consistent threat on both sides of the ball, the Yonkers native has racked up 19 double-doubles this season, which ranks second in the nation and the most by a Johnnie in a single season since Walter Berry (1985-86).
The 6-foot-11 center has been one of the nation's top rebounders, averaging 12.2 total boards (3rd in NCAA), 4.4 offensive rebounds (3rd) and 7.5 defensive boards (9th) per game. In the midst of a career year, Soriano is one rebound shy of becoming the first Johnnie since Berry (1985-86) to eclipse 300 rebounds in a single season.
Soriano ranks among the BIG EAST's top scorers with 15.4 points per game, the ninth highest average in the league this season. He has registered five 20-point performances and recorded double figures in all but three contests this year.
In March, five finalists will be presented to Abdul-Jabbar and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The winner of the 2023 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award will be announced on a date to be determined, along with the other four members of the Men's Starting Five, winners of the Bob Cousy Award (Point Guard), Jerry West Award (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving Award (Small Forward) and the Karl Malone Award (Power Forward).
Previous winners of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award are Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky (2022), Luka Garza, Iowa (2020, '21), Ethan Happ, Wisconsin (2019), Angel Delgado, Seton Hall (2018), Przemek Karnowski, Gonzaga (2017), Jakob Poeltl, Utah (2016) and Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin (2015).
Fans can support their favorite players in the remaining rounds by participating in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, starting today on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
Slated to make his 100th career appearance, Soriano and the Red Storm will look to avenge its early season loss to Providence when the Friars come to Madison Square Garden on Saturday. Tip-off for the nationally televised game on FOX is scheduled for noon.
2023 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Candidates*
Oumar Ballo - Arizona
Armando Bacot - North Carolina
Adama Sanogo - Connecticut
Zach Edey - Purdue
Ryan Kalkbrenner - Creighton
Cliff Omoruyi - Rutgers
Oscar Tshiebwe - Kentucky
Joel Soriano - St. John's
Hunter Dickinson - Michigan
Jack Nunge - Xavier
*Players can play their way onto and off the list at any point in the 2022-2023 season.
Soriano earned a spot on this prestigious list of finalists alongside three other BIG EAST players, Connecticut's Adama Sanogo, Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner and Xavier's Jack Nunge. A consistent threat on both sides of the ball, the Yonkers native has racked up 19 double-doubles this season, which ranks second in the nation and the most by a Johnnie in a single season since Walter Berry (1985-86).
The 6-foot-11 center has been one of the nation's top rebounders, averaging 12.2 total boards (3rd in NCAA), 4.4 offensive rebounds (3rd) and 7.5 defensive boards (9th) per game. In the midst of a career year, Soriano is one rebound shy of becoming the first Johnnie since Berry (1985-86) to eclipse 300 rebounds in a single season.
Soriano ranks among the BIG EAST's top scorers with 15.4 points per game, the ninth highest average in the league this season. He has registered five 20-point performances and recorded double figures in all but three contests this year.
In March, five finalists will be presented to Abdul-Jabbar and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The winner of the 2023 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award will be announced on a date to be determined, along with the other four members of the Men's Starting Five, winners of the Bob Cousy Award (Point Guard), Jerry West Award (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving Award (Small Forward) and the Karl Malone Award (Power Forward).
Previous winners of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award are Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky (2022), Luka Garza, Iowa (2020, '21), Ethan Happ, Wisconsin (2019), Angel Delgado, Seton Hall (2018), Przemek Karnowski, Gonzaga (2017), Jakob Poeltl, Utah (2016) and Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin (2015).
Fans can support their favorite players in the remaining rounds by participating in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, starting today on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
Slated to make his 100th career appearance, Soriano and the Red Storm will look to avenge its early season loss to Providence when the Friars come to Madison Square Garden on Saturday. Tip-off for the nationally televised game on FOX is scheduled for noon.
2023 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Candidates*
Oumar Ballo - Arizona
Armando Bacot - North Carolina
Adama Sanogo - Connecticut
Zach Edey - Purdue
Ryan Kalkbrenner - Creighton
Cliff Omoruyi - Rutgers
Oscar Tshiebwe - Kentucky
Joel Soriano - St. John's
Hunter Dickinson - Michigan
Jack Nunge - Xavier
*Players can play their way onto and off the list at any point in the 2022-2023 season.
Players Mentioned
Center
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