WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue senior forward Caden Pierce is 1-of-20 players selected to the Karl Malone Award watch list, announced today by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and given annually to the nation’s top power forward.
Pierce is one of five Big Ten players named on the list, joined by Minnesota’s Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, Michigan’s J.P. Estrella, Illinois’ David Mirkovic and Indiana’s Aiden Sherrell.
This marks the second year that Pierce has been on the Malone Award watch list, after being on the list in 2025, while at Princeton.
Pierce arrived at Purdue as one of the most sought-after transfers in the country after starting 89 of 90 career games for the Tigers. As a sophomore during the 2023-24 season, Pierce was selected as the Ivy League Player of the Year after averaging 16.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game, shooting 54.6 percent from the field and 34.2 percent from 3-point range, leading the Tigers to a 24-5 record and an Ivy League regular-season title. He was one of just six underclassmen in the last 40 years to average at least 16 points, nine rebounds, three assists and one steal per game, while shooting over 50 percent from the field.
Pierce was named to the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year watch list before the 2024-25 season and was the USBWA Oscar Robertson Trophy National Player of the Week in Dec. 2024 after leading the Tigers to an 83-82 win over Rutgers with 21 points and 14 rebounds.
As a freshman in 2022-23, Pierce played a vital role in the Tigers advancing to the Sweet 16, averaging 8.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game en route to Ivy League Rookie of the Year accolades. In a round of 32 triumph over Missouri, Pierce had nine points and 16 rebounds to help move the Tigers into the second weekend.
Pierce was selected as a six-time Ivy League Player of the Week and four-time Ivy League Rookie of the Week. He was one of five players in Princeton history to tally at least 1,000 points and 700 rebounds in a career, and is the only active player in the country to have at least 1,000 points, 700 rebounds and 200 career assists in under 100 games.
Pierce and the Boilermakers will open the 2026-27 season on Monday against Gonzaga in Las Vegas.