the Karl Malone Award, given annually to the nation’s best power forward.
Over the last five games, Washington is averaging 20.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 1.2 assists and 1.2 steals. He’s shooting 48.7 percent from the floor and 47.1 percent from long range, making eight 3s. He’s also hitting 76.9 percent from the free throw line on an average of 5.2 trips a game. Prior to the South Carolina game, he had double doubles in three straight games, the first Kentucky player to do so since Julius Randle back in 2013-2014.
The complete list of Karl Malone Award candidates:
| Yoeli Childs | BYU |
| Zion Williamson | Duke |
| Dedric Lawson | Kansas |
| PJ Washington | Kentucky |
| Ignas Brazdekis | Michigan |
| Jordan Murphy | Minnesota |
| Luke Maye | North Carolina |
| Mike Daum | South Dakota State |
| Grant Williams | Tennessee |
| Eric Paschall | Villanova |
PJ could be the first Kentucky player to win the Karl Malone Award, which was created in 2015.