PJ Washington’s impressive play has not gone unnoticed. Today, the sophomore big man was named one of five finalists for the Karl Malone Award, given annually to the best power forward in college basketball. The other finalists are Mike Daum (South Dakota State), Dedric Lawson (Kansas), Grant Williams (Tennessee), and Zion Williamson (Duke).
Washington, also a semifinalist for Naismith Player of the Year, has scored 20 or more points in eight of the last 13 games. During that stretch, he’s averaging 18.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 blocks and shooting 53.7 percent from the floor and 47.