SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (March 5, 2020) – Maryland sophomore forward Jalen Smith has been named one of five finalists for the 2020 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award, announced Thursday by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Earlier today, Smith was named one of ten semifinalists for the 2020 Citizen Naismith Trophy for Men's Player of the Year.

It marks the second consecutive season a Maryland player has been named a finalist for a major positional award, as Bruno Fernando was a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award last season.

Smith is joined on the list by fellow finalists Yoeli Childs (BYU), Obi Toppin (Dayton), Killian Tillie (Gonzaga) and Reggie Perry (Mississippi State). Smith is looking to become Maryland's first winner of the award in program history, and first player to win an individual national award since Greivis Vasquez won the Cousy Award in 2010.

Smith has proven to be one of the most dominant players in the country this season, leading the Big Ten and ranking third nationally with 20 double-doubles.

The Baltimore, Md., native has been particularly impressive in Big Ten Conference play, leading the league in double-doubles (14) and field goal percentage (.564), ranking second in rebounds/g (10.9) and blocks/g (2.3) and fifth in scoring (16.7) and 3-pt field goal percentage (.429).

The winner of the 2020 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award will be determined by a combination of fan votes and input from the Basketball Hall of Fame's selection committee.

The winner will be presented at The College Basketball Awards presented by Wendy's in Los Angeles, Calif., on Friday, April 10, 2020.

-Terps-