GREENVILLE, S.C. – Furman’s Jalen Slawson is one of 20 student-athletes nationally on the Karl Malone Award watch list by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, it was announced on Thursday.
 
Slawson, a fifth-year senior from Summerville, S.C., contributed 14.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game a year ago on his way to being named SoCon Defensive Player of the Year. The first-team All-SoCon choice last season and preseason all-league choice this year dished out 125 assists, registered 58 steals and blocked 58 shots for the 2021-22 Paladins. The forward entered the NBA Draft before electing to return to school for a fifth season.
 
Fan voting presented by Dell Technologies will open on Friday, Oct. 28, so fans can vote for their favorite players in each of the three rounds. The top 10 player selections from the fan vote will get an additional vote towards making the next round.
 
This list will be narrowed down to 10 in late January and then five finalists will be selected in late February. The winner of this award will be presented on a to-be-determined date. Presentation details will be announced at a later date. 
 
The Karl Malone Award is given annually to the top power forward in men’s college basketball.
 
Preseason SoCon favorite Furman, 22-12 overall and 12-6 in the SoCon a year ago, opens its season in Timmons Arena on Monday, Nov. 7, versus North Greenville before the Paladins entertain perennial mid-major power Belmont on Friday, Nov. 11. Penn State will provide the opposition when the Paladins open play in the Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic on Nov. 17, in Charleston, South Carolina.