SPRINGFIELD, MASS. — The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the 20 watch-list candidates for the 2026 Karl Malone Award on Tuesday and Arizona freshman forward Koa Peat was included on the list. The high-energy forward from Perry High School in Arizona was a McDonald’s All-American as a senior and has been strong in both exhibition games for the Wildcats.
Peat had a decorated prep career, winning four state championships and being named Gatorade Arizona Player of the Year three times.
The annual Karl Malone Award, named after the Class of 2010 Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, celebrates its 12th year by recognizing the top power forwards in Division I men’s college basketball.
2026 Karl Malone Award Preseason Top 20*
Koa Peat, Arizona
Keyshawn Hall, Auburn
Michael Rataj, Baylor
Cameron Boozer, Duke
Thomas Haugh, Florida
Baye Ndongo, Georgia Tech
Graham Ike, Gonzaga
Joseph Tugler, Houston
Alvaro Folgueiras, Iowa
Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
Malik Reneau, Miami
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Caleb Wilson, North Carolina
Nick Martinelli, Northwestern
Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue
Bryce Hopkins, St. John’s
Donnie Freeman, Syracuse
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA
Alex Karaban, UConn
*Players can play their way onto and off the list at any point in the 2025-26 season.
Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting starting Friday, October 31. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2026 Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February, to just five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Malone, McClain, and the Hall of Fame’s selection committees, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committees for the Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards are composed of top men’s and women’s college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
The winner of the 2026 Malone and McClain Awards will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men’s and Women’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy and Nancy Lieberman Awards (Point Guard), Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards (Small Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie Awards (Center).
Previous winners of the Karl Malone Award are Johni Broome, Auburn (2025), Jaedon LeDee, San Diego State (2024), Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana (2023), Keegan Murray, Iowa (2022), Drew Timme, Gonzaga (2021), Obi Toppin, Dayton (2020), Zion Williamson, Duke (2019), Deandre Ayton, Arizona (2018), Johnathan Motley, Baylor (2017), Georges Niang, Iowa State (2016), and Montrezl Harrell, Louisville (2015).
Arizona opens the 2025-26 regular season Monday, Nov. 3 against No. 3 Florida at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. MST on TNT.
