10/30/2026 1:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
COLLEGE PARK, MD – Maryland redshirt senior Pharrel Payne has been named to the 2026-27 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Top-20 Preseason Watch List as announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday.
Payne has played in 106 collegiate games overall with 47 starts. In his career, Payne has averaged 10.3 points and 5.6 rebounds overall, while shooting 62.4% from the floor and 71.9% from the free throw line. Prior to missing the final 21 games of the 2025-26 season due to injury, Payne was averaging a career-best 17.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
Earlier this year, he was named to the 2026-27 Big Ten All-Preseason Team.
The annual Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, named after the Class of 1995 Hall of Famer and three-time NCAA Champion, celebrates its 13th year by honoring the top center in NCAA Division I men's college basketball.
Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting starting today, Friday, October 30, via hoophallawards.com. In February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2027 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will be narrowed to 10, then to five in March. In late March, the five finalists will be presented to Abdul-Jabbar and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where the winner will be selected. The selection committee for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is composed of top men's and women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
Payne and the Terps will open the season this Monday, November 2 against Bucknell at the XFINITY Center. Tickets are on-sale now at www.UMTerps.com.
Payne has played in 106 collegiate games overall with 47 starts. In his career, Payne has averaged 10.3 points and 5.6 rebounds overall, while shooting 62.4% from the floor and 71.9% from the free throw line. Prior to missing the final 21 games of the 2025-26 season due to injury, Payne was averaging a career-best 17.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
Earlier this year, he was named to the 2026-27 Big Ten All-Preseason Team.
The annual Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, named after the Class of 1995 Hall of Famer and three-time NCAA Champion, celebrates its 13th year by honoring the top center in NCAA Division I men's college basketball.
Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting starting today, Friday, October 30, via hoophallawards.com. In February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2027 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will be narrowed to 10, then to five in March. In late March, the five finalists will be presented to Abdul-Jabbar and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where the winner will be selected. The selection committee for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is composed of top men's and women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
Payne and the Terps will open the season this Monday, November 2 against Bucknell at the XFINITY Center. Tickets are on-sale now at www.UMTerps.com.
| NAME | SCHOOL |
| Motiejus Krivas | Arizona |
| Oswin Erhunmwunse | Creighton |
| Patrick Ngongba II | Duke |
| Rueben Chinyelu | Florida |
| Marcis Ponder | FSU |
| Massamba Diop | Gonzaga |
| Tomislav Ivišić | Illinois |
| Andrew McKeever | Iowa |
| Malachi Moreno | Kentucky |
| Flory Bidunga | Louisville |
| Sananda Fru | Marquette |
| Pharrel Payne | Maryland |
| Somo Cyril | Miami |
| Moustapha Thiam | Michigan |
| Daniel Jacobsen | Purdue |
| Jaden Toombs | SMU |
| Matas Vokietaitis | Texas |
| Luigi Suigo | Villanova |
| Johann Grünloh | Virginia |
| Nolan Winter | Wisconsin |
Players Mentioned
F/C
/ Men's BasketballTuesday, November 03
Monday, November 02
Sunday, November 01
Wednesday, October 28
