LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas sophomore Flory Bidunga has been named to the 20-member Kareem Abdul-Jabaar Center of the Year Watch List, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today.
Bidunga becomes the second KU player named to a Naismith Starting Five watch list for 2025-26 after freshman Darryn Peterson was named to the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Watch List on Monday.
The annual Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, named after the Class of 1995 Hall of Famer and three-time NCAA Champion, celebrates its 12th year by honoring the top centers in Division I men’s college basketball.
In 2024-25, Bidunga started six of his 34 games played and led Kansas with 54 blocked shots. His 1.6 blocks per game were third in the Big 12 and 60th nationally and his 54 blocks rank fourth on the KU freshman list. A native of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, the 6-foot-10 Bidunga concluded 2024-25 first on the KU freshman list in field goal percentage at 69.8% (88-126) and he averaged 5.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting starting today, October 31. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2026 Kareem Abdul-Jabaar will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February, to just five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to the Hall of Fame’s selection committees, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committees for the Kareem Abdul-Jabaar Award are composed of top men’s college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers.
No. 19 Kansas opens the 2025-26 regular season when it plays host to Green Bay on Monday, Nov. 3. The contest from historic Allen Fieldhouse begins at 7 p.m. (CT) and will be televised on ESPN+.
2026 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Candidates
Malique Ewin – Arkansas
Moustapha Thiam – Cincinnati
Owen Freeman – Creighton
Patrick Ngongba II – Duke
Alex Condon – Florida
Chris Cenac Jr. – Houston
Tomislav Ivišić – Illinois
FLORY BIDUNGA – KANSAS
Jayden Quaintance – Kentucky
Ernest Udeh Jr. – Miami
Aday Mara – Michigan
Rienk Mast – Nebraska
Henri Veesaar – North Carolina
Nate Bittle – Oregon
Oscar Cluff – Purdue
Robbie Avila – Saint Louis
Magoon Gwath – San Diego State
Zuby Ejiofor – St. John’s
Felix Okpara – Tennessee
Tarris Reed Jr. – UConn
Courtesy of KU Athletics