CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Chambana Today) — The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced Friday that Illinois junior Tomislav Ivisic has been named one of 20 watch-list candidates for the 2026 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, which honors the nation’s top small forward in men’s Division I college basketball.
The prestigious award, named after Hall of Famer and three-time NCAA Champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, enters its 12th year of recognizing excellence among small forwards. Ivisic’s selection to the watch list highlights his exceptional performance during his breakout sophomore season with the Illini.
In his first year with Illinois, Ivisic emerged as the team’s second-leading scorer, averaging 13.0 points per game, while also leading the squad in both rebounds (7.7 per game) and blocks (1.2 per game). He was a dominant force in the paint and on the perimeter, finishing fourth in the Big Ten with 11 double-doubles. Ivisic was also a reliable outside shooter, hitting 35.7% of his three-point attempts (55-of-154), which ranked as the best on the team.
His standout performances in the 2025 NCAA Tournament further cemented his status as one of the nation’s top players. In the opening round against Xavier, Ivisic posted a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double while knocking down four 3-pointers. He followed that up with a scorching five made triples in Illinois’ second-round victory over Kentucky, contributing 19 points, six rebounds, and four blocks.
The list of candidates will continue to evolve throughout the 2025-26 season, with players being added or removed based on their performances.
2026 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Watch List:
- Malique Ewin, Arkansas
- Moustapha Thiam, Cincinnati
- Owen Freeman, Creighton
- Patrick Ngongba II, Duke
- Alex Condon, Florida
- Chris Cenac Jr., Houston
- Tomislav Ivisic, Illinois
- Flory Bidunga, Kansas
- Jayden Quanitance, Kentucky
- Ernest Udeh Jr., Miami
- Aday Mara, Michigan
- Rienk Mast, Nebraska
- Henri Veesaar, North Carolina
- Nate Bittle, Oregon
- Oscar Cluff, Purdue
- Robbie Avila, Saint Louis
- Magoon Gwath, San Diego State
- Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s
- Felix Okpara, Tennessee
- Tarris Reed Jr., UConn