Arizona Basketball: Oumar Ballo is on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award watchlist
As the 2022-23 college basketball season quickly approaches, Arizona Basketball big man Oumar Ballo has landed on the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award watchlist.
Just days after being named a preseason Honorable Mention in the Pac-12 Conference ahead of their annual media day, Arizona Basketball big man Oumar Ballo is drawing more preseason praise.
Making news via social media on Friday afternoon, Ballo was officially named to the preseason Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award watchlist.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Watch list including Adama Sanogo of @UConnMBB and Cliff Omoruyi of @RutgersMBB pic.twitter.com/x7bsjGxtLG
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) October 28, 2022
An award that is presented annually by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to college basketball’s top collegiate center, Oumar is considered to be one of the best postmen in the Pac-12 this season.
Since its inception in 2015, Arizona unfortunately has not had a player win this award just yet.
Returning to Arizona Basketball for his junior season, Oumar Ballo should be primed for a potentially big year for the Wildcats.
Since joining the Wildcats last season, the former Gonzaga transfer and Mali native has been steadily improving under head coach Tommy Lloyd and the Cats.
Largely playing behind Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and eventual second-round NBA Draft pick, Christian Koloko last season, Ballo had a solid season last year, appearing in 37 games and averaging 6.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game.
As a result, Ballo was awarded the Pac-12’s Sixth Man of the Year and was a big reason Arizona went 33-4 and won the Conference’s Regular-Season and Tournament titles. If he can stay healthy, big things could be on the horizon for Ballo as he continues to draw preseason praise.
At Zona Zealots, we are excited about the quickly approaching 2022-23 season, and we cannot wait to see Oumar’s impact with the Wildcats this season! We know he can continue to develop into a special player!
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