The list of finalists for the inaugural Karl Malone Power Forward Award has been announced and the Big 12 has more student-athletes included than any conference in the nation. Rico Gathers (Baylor), Georges Niang (Iowa State), Perry Ellis (Kansas) and Myles Turner (Texas) were all recognized as part of the group.

The annual honor is in its inaugural year recognizes the top power forwards in Division I men’s college basketball and is presented by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The Big 12 foursome is one of 16 candidates on the list, which is selected by a national committee comprised of top college basketball personnel.

By early March, the current list of 16 finalists for the 2015 Karl Malone Award will be narrowed down to five players. The final five players in contention for the award will be presented to Malone and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. The winner of the 2015 Karl Malone Award will be presented at ESPN’s new College Basketball Awards presented by Wendy’s from Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California, on Friday, April 10. The show will be televised live on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. CT.

2015 Karl Malone Award Candidates
Rico Gathers, Baylor
Georges Niang, Iowa State
Perry Ellis, Kansas
Myles Turner, Texas
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Arizona
Justin Moss, Buffalo
Kevon Looney, UCLA
Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga
David Laury, Iona
Aaron White, Iowa
Jordan Mickey, LSU
Montrezl Harrell, Louisville
Jake Layman, Maryland
Christian Wood, UNLV
Seth Tuttle, Northern Iowa
Larry Nance Jr., Wyoming