Hernandez Named to Abdul-Jabbar Award Watch List
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami junior Dewan Hernandez has been named to the 20-man Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Watch List, as announced Friday by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Hernandez is the lone candidate to hail from an ACC program.
Named after Class of 1995 Hall of Famer and three-time NCAA Champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the annual honor in its fifth year recognizes the top centers in men’s college basketball. A national committee comprising top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
Formerly known as Dewan Huell, Hernandez legally changed his last name during the offseason to honor his mother, Christina Hernandez.
A native of Miami and graduate of Norland High School, Hernandez averaged 11.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game during the 2017-18 season as UM reached the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season. He was the only Miami player to start all 32 games. Hernandez ranked 14th in the ACC in rebounding and also was 14th in ACC games only (6.9).
Hernandez scored in double figures in 20 games, including three 20-plus point efforts. Hernandez also recorded the first five double-doubles of his career, with three coming in ACC play. He was named to Diamond Head Classic All-Tournament Team in December after averaging 15.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in the tournament.
In two seasons at Miami, Hernandez has averaged 8.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. He has played in 64 games, with 47 starts. He is a 56 percent career shooter from the field.
By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2019 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award will be narrowed down to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Mr. Abdul-Jabbar and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. The winner of the 2019 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award will be presented at The College Basketball Awards presented by Wendy’s in Los Angeles on April 12, 2019, along with the other four members of the Naismith Starting 5.
Miami takes the court on Oct. 30 at home against Barry University in an exhibition game. The 2018-19 regular-season opener is Nov. 9 at home against Lehigh.
Season tickets for the 2018-19 men’s basketball home schedule start at $160 and are on sale now through the UM Athletics Ticket Office. Miami has sold out its season-ticket allotment for three straight seasons. Tickets can be purchased online HERE or by calling the ticket office at 1-800-GO-CANES. For more details, call the ticket office or email canestix@miami.edu.
To keep up with the University of Miami men’s basketball team on social media, follow @CanesHoops on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
2019 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award Candidates
Daniel Gafford, Arkansas
Austin Wiley, Auburn
James Thompson IV, Eastern Michigan
Jessie Govan, Georgetown
Killian Tillie, Gonzaga
Alessandro Lever, Grand Canyon
Udoka Azubuike, Kansas
Nick Richards, Kentucky
Cameron Krutwig, Loyola Chicago
Naz Reid, LSU
Jalen Smith, Maryland
Dewan Hernandez, Miami
Nick Ward, Michigan State
Jontay Porter, Missouri
Bol Bol, Oregon
Moses Brown, UCLA
James Dickey, UNC Greensboro
Charles Bassey, Western Kentucky
Nathan Knight, William & Mary
Ethan Happ, Wisconsin
*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2018-19 season*
