Indiana Forward Aiden Sherrell Named to 2027 Karl Malone Award Preseason Watchlist

Indiana forward Aiden Sherrell earned a spot on the 20 player preseason watchlist for the 2027 Karl Malone Award, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced. The annual honor, named after the two time NBA Most Valuable Player and Class of 2010 Hall of Famer, enters its 13th year of recognizing the top power forward in NCAA Division I men’s college basketball.

Sherrell, a third year forward, arrives in Bloomington following a strong two season stint at Alabama. Over his collegiate career, the 2024 McDonald’s All American averaged 7.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 16.1 minutes per game. He earned 53 career victories, advanced to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament twice, and logged three double doubles. His presence brings elite rim protection and interior athleticism to the Hoosiers frontline.

The Detroit native produced a breakout campaign during his second year in Tuscaloosa. Sherrell started all 34 games for the Crimson Tide, delivering 11.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in 23.9 minutes per contest. He reached double figure scoring in 19 games, surpassed the 20 point mark four times, and recorded three double doubles. His 2.2 blocks per game placed him 13th nationally in rejection average, establishing him as one of the premier defenders in the country. Head coach Darian DeVries and the Indiana staff look for Sherrell to anchor the defense while expanding his offensive impact in the Big Ten.

2027 Karl Malone Award Candidates

 Paulius Murauskas, Arizona State

 Miikka Muurinen, Arkansas

 Jaxon Kohler, BYU

 Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje, Duke

 Alex Condon, Florida

 Braden Huff, Gonzaga

 Joseph Tugler, Houston

 David Mirkovic, Illinois

 Aiden Sherrell, Indiana

 Keanu Dawes, Kansas

 Malik Reneau, Miami

 J.P. Estrella, Michigan

 Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, Minnesota

 Caden Pierce, Purdue

 Keyshawn Hall, St. John's

 Xavier Edmonds, TCU

 David Punch, Texas

 JT Toppin, Texas Tech

 Na'jai Hines, UConn

 Thijs De Ridder, Virginia

Players remain eligible to play their way onto or off the list throughout the 2025-26 season. Fan voting opens Friday, Oct. 30, allowing supporters to back their favorite candidates.

The Hall of Fame selection committee, comprised of media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers, will narrow the field to 10 players in February and five finalists in March. The final group will be presented to Malone and the committee before the winner is crowned alongside the remaining Men’s Starting Five award winners: the Bob Cousy Award, Jerry West Award, Julius Erving Award, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award.

Indiana opens the 2025-26 season at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, Nov. 2, against Eastern Illinois inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.