University of Connecticut Athletics
Alex Karaban On Karl Malone Award Watch List
10/30/2025 1:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – UConn men's basketball redshirt senior Alex Karaban has been named to the Preseason Watch List for the 2026 Karl Malone Award, presented annuall by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame to the top power forward in the nation. The Hall of Fame is announcing the preseason watch lists for the "Starting Five" awards this week.
The Southborough, Mass. native is coming off an All-Conference season as a junior, grabbing a Second Team All-BIG EAST nod after averaging 14.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 blocks in '24-25. The do-it-all ability of Karaban has him as the only player in UConn history with over 1,350 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists, 200 made 3-pointers and 100 blocks. He holds a career shooting line of .469/.375/.841 and currently sits 52 triples away from Rashad Anderson's program-record of 267.
The Huskies have now seen four earn spots on a Naismith Starting Five watch list this preseason, with Karaban joining Silas Demary Jr. (Cousy), Solo Ball (West) and Braylon Mullins (Erving). They are all vying to add to the Cousy Awards won by Kemba Walker (2011), Shabazz Napier (2014) and Tristen Newton (2024) as the winners of the positional awards in UConn history.
