Tomislav Ivisic Named Abdul-Jabbar Award Watch List Candidate

CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced Friday that Fighting Illini junior Tomislav Ivisic is one of 20 watch-list candidates for the 2026 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award.

Nnamed after the Class of 1995 Hall of Famer and three-time NCAA Champion, the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award celebrates its 12th year by recognizing the top small forwards in Division I men's college basketball. 

Ivisic was the Illini's second-leading scorer and leading rebounder and shot blocker last year, averaging 13.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in his first collegiate season. He ranked fourth in the Big Ten with 11 double-doubles and registered five games of 20+ points. He also shot a team-best 35.7% from 3-point range, connecting on 55-of-154 behind the arc. Ivisic combined for nine made triples during the NCAA Tournament, hitting four in the first-round win over Xavier en route to a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double, then draining five in the second round vs. Kentucky as part of a 19-point, 6-rebound, 4-block performance.

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 Ivisic, Illinois
Flory Bidunga, Kansas
Jayden Quanitance, 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
*Players can play their way onto and off the list at any point in the 2025-26 season.

In partnership with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), 20 watch-list candidates for the 2026 Lisa Leslie Award also were announced, honoring the top centers in NCAA Division I women's basketball. 

Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in each of the three rounds starting today. In early February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2026 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie Awards will be narrowed to 10, and then in early March, to just five. Later in March, the five finalists will be presented to Abdul-Jabbar, Leslie, and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committees for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie 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 winner of the 2026 Abdul-Jabbar and Leslie 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 Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards (Power Forward).

Previous winners of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award are Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton (2025), Zach Edey, Purdue (2023-24), Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky (2022), Luka Garza, Iowa (2020-21), Ethan Happ, Wisconsin (2019), Angel Delgado, Seton Hall (2018), Przemek Karnowski, Gonzaga (2017), Jakob Poeltl, Utah (2016), and Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin (2015). 

Previous winners of the Lisa Leslie Award are Lauren Betts, UCLA (2025), Cameron Brink, Stanford (2024), Aliyah Boston, South Carolina (2020-23), Megan Gustafson, Iowa (2019), and A'ja Wilson, South Carolina (2018). 

For more information on the 2026 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie Awards and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu, #KareemAward, and #LeslieAward on X and Instagram.