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Photo by: John McGillen
Metu Named To The Abdul-Jabbar Award Watch List
October 20, 2017 | Men's Basketball, Features
USC junior Chimezie Metu was one of 20 players to be named to the preseason watch list for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award as the nation's top center. The award is named after the Hall of Famer and three-time NCAA Champion Kareer Abdul-Jabbar, and recognizes the top centers in Division I men's college basketball.
"Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's talent and accolades are unparalleled when it comes to centers in college basketball," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "With the legacy he built at UCLA and then as a professional, is it only fitting that we honor the top collegiate centers with an award bearing his name."
Metu started all 36 games for USC in the 2016-17 season and averaged 14.8 points and 7.8 rebounds. He was named the 2017 Pac-12 Most Improved Player, All-Pac-12 second team and All-Academinc honorable mention. He had at least six rebounds and 10 or more points in 27 of 36 games and posted six double-doubles. He scored in double figures in 31 of 36 games, including five games of 20 or more points. His 534 points scored tied for the 15th-most in a single season by a Trojan and the most since Nikola Vucevic scored 582 in 2011. He averaged 16.9 points and 8.2 rebounds in USC's final 13 games. Metu also had 80 dunks, more than the total (78) of all of USC's opponent's dunks during the 2016-17 season.
By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2018 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award will be narrowed to 10. In March, five finalist will be presented to Mr. Abdul-Jabbar and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The winner of the award will be presented at the ESPN College Basketball Awards Show presented by Wendy's in Los Angeles, Calif. on April 6, 2018.
"Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's talent and accolades are unparalleled when it comes to centers in college basketball," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "With the legacy he built at UCLA and then as a professional, is it only fitting that we honor the top collegiate centers with an award bearing his name."
Metu started all 36 games for USC in the 2016-17 season and averaged 14.8 points and 7.8 rebounds. He was named the 2017 Pac-12 Most Improved Player, All-Pac-12 second team and All-Academinc honorable mention. He had at least six rebounds and 10 or more points in 27 of 36 games and posted six double-doubles. He scored in double figures in 31 of 36 games, including five games of 20 or more points. His 534 points scored tied for the 15th-most in a single season by a Trojan and the most since Nikola Vucevic scored 582 in 2011. He averaged 16.9 points and 8.2 rebounds in USC's final 13 games. Metu also had 80 dunks, more than the total (78) of all of USC's opponent's dunks during the 2016-17 season.
By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2018 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award will be narrowed to 10. In March, five finalist will be presented to Mr. Abdul-Jabbar and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The winner of the award will be presented at the ESPN College Basketball Awards Show presented by Wendy's in Los Angeles, Calif. on April 6, 2018.
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