CAA

Knight Named To Abdul-Jabbar List, Riller A Curious Cousy Omission

Knight Named To Abdul-Jabbar List, Riller A Curious Cousy Omission

William & Mary senior Nathan Knight was named to the 2020 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award watch list.

Nov 4, 2019 by FloHoops Staff
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William & Mary senior Nathan Knight was named to the 2020 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award watch list, given to the nation’s top collegiate center, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced on Oct. 18.

In his junior year, Knight was one of five finalists for the award as the top center in Division I.

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Earlier this month, Knight was recognized as a preseason All-CAA First Team selection. He was a First Team All-CAA and All-Defensive Team selection at the end of last season along with earning a place on the Lou Henson All-America Team.

Surprisingly, Grant Riller was not among the initial 20-man watch list for the Bob Cousy Award.

Riller’s 21.9 ppg in 2018-19 ranks would rank third among the 20 nominees, while his 4.1 apg would place him 10th. Riller’s player efficiency rating of 28.8 in 2018-19 (per College Basketball Reference) would rate first among nominees.

William & Mary’s Nathan Knight was among the top big men in the country in 2018-19 and put himself into elite company. Averaging 21.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.3 blocks in 2018-19, Knight joined Tim Duncan as the only other Division I player since1992 to average at least 20.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg 3.0 apg and 2.0 bpg in a season.

Among returning players, Charleston’s Grant Riller posted the highest offensive rating for players used on over 28-percent of a team’s possessions, per Ken Pomeroy. Knight had the fourth-best offensive rating among returning players.