University of Connecticut Athletics
Alex Karaban Named Malone Award Top Five Finalist
3/12/2026 1:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – UConn men's basketball star Alex Karaban has been named a Top Five Finalist for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award, as announced by the Naismith Hall of Fame on Thursday (March 12). He joins teammate Solo Ball, a member of the West Award Top Five, as Huskies honored among the 'Starting Five' award finalists.
Karaban has cemented himself forever in the UConn record books this season. The winningest player in program history also holds the Husky record for games started and is closing on records for games played, minutes logged and 3-pointers made. He is a top-10 all-time scorer at UConn and became the first active player inducted to the Huskies of Honor when he was placed on the wall on his Senior Day on Feb. 28
This season Karaban was a First Team All-Conference pick and is posting averages of 12.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.8 'stocks' per game. He is shooting 47.9 percent from the floor, 40.0 percent from three and 84.6 percent from the free throw line. He is one of two Huskies to start all 31 games this season and leads the squad with 33.7 minutes per game, top-three in the BIG EAST.
Karaban has scored in double-figures 21 times this season and has a team-high five 20-point efforts. He scored a season-high 23 points on two occasions, in a dramatic overtime win at Providence on Jan. 7 and on his Senior Day against Seton Hall on Feb. 28. He has hit at least three 3-pointers in a game on 10 occasions including a season-high five, twice.
The Huskies return to action on Thursday to take on 10-seed Xavier in the BIG EAST Quarterfinals.
