SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Duke men’s basketball sophomore Kyle Filipowski been named a finalist for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award, as announced by The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Thursday.
Filipowski is one of five finalists, joined by Akron’s Enrique Freeman, Dayton’s DaRon Holmes II, San Diego State’s Jaedon Ledee and Utah State’s Great Osobor.
A native of Westtown, New York, Filipowski was named a Preseason All-American and ACC Preseason Player of the Year and has improved in nearly all statistical categories as a sophomore. He has already surpassed his freshman assist total with 86, has blocked 47 shots – nearly double his freshman total – is shooting 50.7 percent from the field and is knocking in 3-pointers at a 35.4 percent clip, all en route to an average of 16.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.
After 16 double-doubles as a freshman, Filipowski has already added eight to his career total this season, including a strong performance at Pittsburgh on Jan. 9 in which he finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds while making 11-of-12 field goals, including all four threes. The shooting performance marked the best by a Blue Devil with at least 10 attempts since Zion Williamson finished 13-of-13 against Syracuse on March 14, 2019.
Filipowski has scored at least 10 points in all but seven games this season, has reached at least 20 points 10 separate times and amassed a career-high 30 points alongside 13 rebounds against Georgia Tech in mid-January – the first Blue Devil to record a 30-point double-double since Vernon Carey Jr. tallied 31 and 12 versus California on Nov. 21, 2019. He added four assists, two blocks and two steals against the Yellow Jackets, all without committing a turnover, becoming the first Duke player with a 30-point double-double and no turnovers in the past 40 seasons.
Filipowski was named the Lute Olson National Player of the Week following his performances against Pittsburgh and Georgia Tech and was tabbed ACC Player of the Week on Dec. 18., after pouring in 28 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and adding eight assists against Hofstra – finishing two assists shy of the sixth all-time triple-double by a Blue Devil.
Among ACC leaders, Filipowski currently ranks 10th in scoring (16.5 ppg), seventh in rebounding (8.1 rpg), fifth in blocked shots (1.6 bpg) and fifth in field…
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