UCF's Tacko Fall named finalist for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar award

Shannon Green Contact Reporter Orlando Sentinel

UCF sophomore Tacko Fall is already making a name for himself as one of the best centers in college basketball.

Despite playing organized basketball for just five years, Fall was recently named a finalist for the 2017 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar award that honors the top center in college basketball. The winner of the three-year-old award will be announced at the ESPN’s College Basketball Awards in Los Angeles April 7.

Fall is one of 10 finalists and the only one to hail from the American Athletic Conference.

Although the 7-foot-6 center has struggled during the Knights’ most recent road games against Houston and Tulsa, he’s put together an impressive sophomore campaign shooting the second best field goal percentage in Division I basketball (75.7 percent). He averages 9.9 rebounds per game, 12.2 points per game and 2.3 blocks per game.

“He’s had a solid season and he deserves the accolades that he’s gaining,” said UCF basketball coach Johnny Dawkins. “Of course the last two games have been a little more difficult, he’s been in foul trouble in both and they’ve double-teamed him so his offensive numbers may have been down some but this young man is growing right before our eyes and I’m just proud of the work he’s put in thus far.”

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/uc...story.html

(02-05-2017 07:02 PM)ctipton Wrote:   UCF's Tacko Fall named finalist for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar award

Shannon Green Contact Reporter Orlando Sentinel

UCF sophomore Tacko Fall is already making a name for himself as one of the best centers in college basketball.

Despite playing organized basketball for just five years, Fall was recently named a finalist for the 2017 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar award that honors the top center in college basketball. The winner of the three-year-old award will be announced at the ESPN’s College Basketball Awards in Los Angeles April 7.

Fall is one of 10 finalists and the only one to hail from the American Athletic Conference.

Although the 7-foot-6 center has struggled during the Knights’ most recent road games against Houston and Tulsa, he’s put together an impressive sophomore campaign shooting the second best field goal percentage in Division I basketball (75.7 percent). He averages 9.9 rebounds per game, 12.2 points per game and 2.3 blocks per game.

“He’s had a solid season and he deserves the accolades that he’s gaining,” said UCF basketball coach Johnny Dawkins. “Of course the last two games have been a little more difficult, he’s been in foul trouble in both and they’ve double-teamed him so his offensive numbers may have been down some but this young man is growing right before our eyes and I’m just proud of the work he’s put in thus far.”

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/uc...story.html

His size alone makes him amazing to watch. And the AAC can use all the visibility the conference can muster so this is a plus.

Isn't the center position kind of a dying breed in college basketball today? I wasn't aware Cincinnati had one until I looked at the roster - we have exactly one, Nysier Brooks. Maybe that's how Cronin constructs his roster. I dunno.

Sorry folks, there is just no buzz coming out of Orlando about the UCF Knights. Seems as if they are just kinda taken for granted.

I will be in Naples during the game, so the rest of you have to cheer in my place.

Make Tacko fall!