Kansas redshirt-junior Dedric Lawson has been named one of five finalists for the 2019 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced.
 
Joining Lawson as finalists for the 2019 Karl Malone Award are Zion Williamson (Duke), PJ Washington (Kentucky), Mike Daum (South Dakota State) and Grant Williams (Tennessee).
 
Lawson leads the Big 12 in scoring at 19.0 ppg, rebounding at 10.5 rpg and with 19 double-doubles. A national player of the year and All-American candidate, the Memphis, Tennessee, forward has 14 games of 20 or more points and his 19 double-doubles and are tied for sixth nationally. Lawson is the only player in the league averaging a double-double. A three-time Big 12 Player of the Week (11/12, 11/26, 12/26) and five-time league newcomer of the week (12/3, 12/17, 1/14, 1/28, 2/11), Lawson leads KU with 30 blocked shots and his 1.0 blocks per game are fifth in the conference. His 49.3 field goal percentage is ninth in the league.
 
The winner of the 2019 Karl Malone Award will be presented at The College Basketball Awards in Los Angeles on Friday, April 12, 2019, along with the other four members of the Naismith Starting 5. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy Point Guard Award, the Jerry West Shooting Guard Award, the Julius Erving Small Forward Award and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center Award. Additional information about the telecast will be released by ESPN at a later date.
 
Previous winners of the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award include Johnathan Motley, Baylor (2017) and Georges Niang, Iowa State (2016). Kansas' Perry Ellis was a two-time finalist for the honor in 2015 and 2016.