Paulius Murauskas lands on Karl Malone Award Preseason Watch List

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Paulius Murauskas✝️ (@murauskas_paulius)

Better call Paul-ius

• Unanimously regarded as one of the premier transfer prospects in the 2026 portal class
• No. 10 overall transfer prospect (No. 4 power forward) according to 247 Sports
• No. 9 overall transfer prospect (No. 6 forward) according to ESPN
• No. 8 overall transfer prospect (No. 2 power forward) according to Rivals ON3
• No. 10 overall transfer prospect (No. 6 forward) according to CBS Sports
• NABC First Team All-District (2025-26); NABC Second Team All-District (2024-25)
• Two-time First Team All-WCC selection (2024-25, 2025-26)
• Teamed up with new Sun Devil Head Coach Randy Bennett to finish a combined 56-12 (82.4%) with two NCAA Tournament appearances over the past two seasons
• WCC Newcomer of the Year (2024-25)
• Lute Olson National Player of the Week (Jan. 27, 2025)
• USBWA Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week (Jan. 6, 2026)
• Four-time WCC Player of the Week recipient (Dec. 9, 2024, Dec. 1, 2025, Jan. 5, 2026, Jan. 26, 2026)
• Sixth-most points scored in a Single Season in Program History (606 in 2025-26)
• Third-most made free throws in a Single Season in Program History (168 in 2025-26)
• Appeared in every game for the Gaels in 2025-26, starting 32 of the 33
• Team’s leading scorer, averaging 18.4 PPG and second leading rebounder at 7.6 RPG
• Shot 48.2% from the field and 84% from the stripe in 2025-26
• Scored in double-figures 30 times for the year
• Reached 1,000 career points thanks to a career-best 32-point/15-rebound performance at Pacific (Feb. 14, 2026)
• Recorded seven double-doubles in 2025-26, bringing his career tally to 20
• Started and appeared in every game in 2024-25, finishing second on the team in scoring (12.1 PPG) and rebounding (7.7 RPG)
• Led the WCC with 13 double-doubles in 2024-25
• 2024-25 Lou Henson Mid-Major All-American

About the Award
Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting starting Friday, October 30. In February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2027 Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards will be narrowed to 10, then to five in March. In late March, the five finalists will be presented to Malone, McClain, and the Hall of Fame’s selection committees, where winners will be selected. The selection committees for the Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards are composed of top men’s and women’s college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.

The winners of the 2027 Malone and McClain Awards will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men’s and Women’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy and Nancy Lieberman Awards (Point Guard), Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards (Small Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie Awards (Center).

Previous winners of the Karl Malone Award include Cameron Boozer, Duke (2026), Johni Broome, Auburn (2025), Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana (2023), Keegan Murray, Iowa (2022), Drew Timme, Gonzaga (2021), Obi Toppin, Dayton (2020), Zion Williamson, Duke (2019), Deandre Ayton, Arizona (2018), Georges Niang, Iowa State (2016), and Montrezl Harrell, Louisville (2015).