LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State's Pascal Siakam has been selected as one of the ten watch list finalists for the 2016 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award. The list was announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Thursday morning in Springfield, Mass.
 
The award is named after Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Karl Malone and the annual honor in its second year recognizes the top power forwards in Division I men's college basketball. A national committee comprised of top college basketball personnel determined a watch list of 20 candidates in October, which has now been narrowed to ten.
 
Joining Siakam on the list are Arizona's Ryan Anderson, Baylor's Taurean Prince, Gonzaga's Kyle Wiltjer, Iowa State's Georges Niang, Kansas' Perry Ellis, UL Lafayette's Shawn Long, Marquette's Henry Ellenson, North Carolina's Brice Johnson and Stony Brook's Jameel Warney.
 
Siakam, the Aggies 6-9 sophomore from Douala, Cameroon, leads the nation with 19 double-doubles and 197 field goals. He's sixth nationally in rebounding with 11.9 boards a game, and 13th in scoring with 22.2 points a contest. He's also 32nd nationally in blocked shots with 2.18 per game and 58th in minutes played at 35.32 minutes per game. Siakam leads the Western Athletic Conference in all six categories.
 
In March, five finalists from the list will be presented to Malone and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The winner of the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award will be presented at the ESPN College Basketball Awards presented by Wendy's from Club Nokia in Los Angeles, Calif., on Friday, April 8.
 
Louisville's Montreal Harrell was the inaugural winner of the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award last season.
 
Siakam is also on the watch list for the Lou Henson Award as the top player from a mid-major institution as selected by College Insider.