St. John's University Athletics
Zuby Ejiofor Tabbed to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award
3/12/2026 11:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
St. John’s Star and BIG EAST Player of the Year is one of five finalists for nation’s top center
QUEENS, N.Y. - St. John's men's basketball standout Zuby Ejiofor was named a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced on Thursday.
Ejiofor was one five finalists for the nation's top big man alongside Flory Bidunga (Kansas), Alex Condon (Florida), Graham Ike (Gonzaga) and Henri Veesaar (North Carolina). which will be announced at a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the Naismith Starting Five- Bob Cousy Award (Point Guard), Jerry West Award (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving (Small Forward), and Karl Malone Award (Power Forward).
On Wednesday, Ejiofor became the second player in BIG EAST history to win BIG EAST Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year in the same season joining Connecticut's Emeka Okafor in 2003-04. Additionally, the Garland, Texas native was the only player to be named a unanimous selection to the All-BIG EAST First and All-Defensive Teams.
The team captain guided the Red Storm to back-to-back outright BIG EAST Regular Season Championships for the first time since the 1984-85 and 1985-86 seasons. Ejiofor is averaging 16.0 points on 54.6 percent shooting from the field, 7.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 blocks per game. The senior is the only player in high-major basketball to lead his team and rank top-10 in the conference in all four of the aforementioned statistical categories.
Ejiofor tallied nine 20-plus point performances, six double-doubles and became the fourth known player in St. John's men's basketball history to record a triple-double. The senior forward posted 16 points, 12 boards and a career-high 10 assists in an 89-57 rout of Villanova on Feb. 28.
Top-seeded St. John's will begin the BIG EAST Tournament today at 12 p.m. against ninth-seeded Providence on Peacock.
Ejiofor was one five finalists for the nation's top big man alongside Flory Bidunga (Kansas), Alex Condon (Florida), Graham Ike (Gonzaga) and Henri Veesaar (North Carolina). which will be announced at a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the Naismith Starting Five- Bob Cousy Award (Point Guard), Jerry West Award (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving (Small Forward), and Karl Malone Award (Power Forward).
On Wednesday, Ejiofor became the second player in BIG EAST history to win BIG EAST Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year in the same season joining Connecticut's Emeka Okafor in 2003-04. Additionally, the Garland, Texas native was the only player to be named a unanimous selection to the All-BIG EAST First and All-Defensive Teams.
The team captain guided the Red Storm to back-to-back outright BIG EAST Regular Season Championships for the first time since the 1984-85 and 1985-86 seasons. Ejiofor is averaging 16.0 points on 54.6 percent shooting from the field, 7.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 blocks per game. The senior is the only player in high-major basketball to lead his team and rank top-10 in the conference in all four of the aforementioned statistical categories.
Ejiofor tallied nine 20-plus point performances, six double-doubles and became the fourth known player in St. John's men's basketball history to record a triple-double. The senior forward posted 16 points, 12 boards and a career-high 10 assists in an 89-57 rout of Villanova on Feb. 28.
Top-seeded St. John's will begin the BIG EAST Tournament today at 12 p.m. against ninth-seeded Providence on Peacock.
Players Mentioned
Forward
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