With appearances on two national player of the year watch lists, IU center Oumar Ballo headlines a wave of preseason recognition this week for IU basketball players.
The 7-foot Ballo was named to the NABC Division I Player of the Year and Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Men’s College Player of the Year on Wednesday afternoon.
Ballo averaged 11.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game in three seasons at Arizona. He shot 64.6% (466-of-721) from the floor and posted 34 double-doubles, third most in Arizona basketball history. He was one of 10 players in program history to accumulate at least 1,000 career points and 800 career rebounds.
The 7-0, 260-pound center was twice named to the All-Pac-12 First Team, selected to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team two times, and voted to a pair of Pac-12 All-Tournament Teams.
Overall, Ballo has won 84.8% (112-of-132) of the games he has appeared in throughout his career.
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the preseason watchlist for the 2025 Julius Erving Award, including Indiana sophomore forward Mackenzie Mgbako, on Wednesday.
Named after the Class of 1993 Hall of Famer and 16-year professional basketball player, the Julius Erving Award celebrates its 11th year by recognizing the top small forwards in Division I men’s college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watchlist of 20 athletes.
The reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year averaged 12.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in his debut collegiate season. He led the Hoosiers with 50 made 3-pointers and shot 32.7% from behind the arc. The Gladstone, N.J., native scored in double figures 25 times and added three 20-point outings in 33 starts a season ago.
Mgbako was one of two freshmen in the NCAA to score over 400 points, make at least 50 3-pointers, convert on 90-plus free throws, and grab at least 125 rebounds during the 2023-24 season.
Finally, he Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the preseason watchlist for the 2025 Bob Cousy Award, including Indiana redshirt sophomore guard Myles Rice, on Monday.
Named after Class of 1971 Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard Bob Cousy, the annual honor, now in its 22nd year, recognizes the top point guard in Division I men’s college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watchlist of 20 athletes.
The 6-3, 180-pound guard averaged 14.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.6 steals per game while leading Washington State to the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth in 16 years. He posted 27 double-figure scoring games, 16 multi-steal performances, 13 outings with at least five assists, and netted 20-plus points on six occasions.
The Columbia, S.C., native was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, All-Pac-12 First Team, Pac-12 All-Freshman Team, and was selected Pac-12 Freshman of the Week seven times. He set Washington State freshman records for single-game scoring (35), single-season scoring (519), single-season steals (56), single-season assists (134), single-season field goals (190), and single-season free throw percentage (81.1%). He started all 35 games played for the Cougars.
The Indiana Hoosiers will open the home slate of the 2024-25 season with an exhibition against Marian at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Nov. 1. The regular season will start at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Nov. 6 against SIUE at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
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