WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Oscar Cluff has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, given annually to the nation’s top center, announced today by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Cluff, who was one of five finalists a year ago at South Dakota State, is joined by Big Ten counterparts Aday Mara (Michigan), Rienk Mast (Nebraska) and Hannes Steinbach (Washington) on the list. The other six players include Motiejus Krivas (Arizona), Alex Condon (Florida), Flory Bidunga (Kansas), Henri Veesaar (North Carolina, Zuby Ejiofor (St. John’s) and Tarris Reed Jr. (UConn).
For the season, Cluff is averaging 11.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game, while shooting 74.6 percent from the field. His 74.6 field goal percentage is currently the best mark in school history by over 40 percent and leads the country among players that have made at least 100 field goals.
Cluff has been sensational in Mackey Arena, averaging 12.4 points and 7.6 rebounds, while shooting 82.9 percent from the field. He’s posted five double-doubles this season, including a 22-point, 11-rebound performance against Marquette, while going 9-of-9 from the field. He scored 23 points in a win over Penn State, shooting 10-of-11 from the field.
Against Illinois, Cluff surpassed the 1,000-point mark for his career after one-year stops at Washington State and South Dakota State.
Cluff and the Boilermakers will face Oregon on Saturday in Mackey Arena, beginning at 1 p.m. ET.