Gonzaga's Graham Ike Named Finalist for Top Center Award

The Gonzaga big man is one of five finalists for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 11:21pm

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Gonzaga center Graham Ike has been named one of five finalists for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award, as announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Ike, who was recently named the WCC Tournament MVP and WCC Player of the Year, is joined on the finalist list by players from Florida, North Carolina, St. John's, and Kansas.

Why it matters

Ike's nomination for the prestigious Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award caps off an outstanding season for the Gonzaga big man, who stepped up in a big way after an injury to his teammate Braden Huff. Ike's performance helped lead Gonzaga to a 30-3 record and conference titles, and he is now in contention for his first All-American selection.

The details

Ike averaged 19.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game this season, leading the WCC in points per game and field goal percentage. He shot 61.9% on two-pointers and 34.8% from three-point range. Ike is wrapping up an extraordinary collegiate career that has seen him become the 86th player in history to reach 2,500 career points.

  • On March 10, Ike was named the WCC Tournament MVP.
  • On March 7, Ike was named the WCC Player of the Year.
  • On March 12, Ike was announced as a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award.

The players

Graham Ike

A senior center for the Gonzaga Bulldogs who is a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award.

Braden Huff

Ike's teammate in the Gonzaga frontcourt who suffered a left knee injury, forcing Ike into an even bigger role.

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What’s next

Fans can vote for Ike to win the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award by going to hoophallawards.com starting on Friday, with fan vote counting as one committee vote during the final selection process.

The takeaway

Graham Ike's nomination for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award is a testament to his outstanding play this season, as he stepped up in a big way to lead Gonzaga to conference titles after an injury to his teammate. Ike is now in contention for his first All-American selection, capping off an extraordinary collegiate career.