WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Oscar Cluff has been recognized as one of the top talents in college basketball, earning a spot as a semifinalist for the prestigious Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award. This accolade, awarded annually by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, honors the country’s finest center. This year’s announcement reveals Cluff among ten standout players, including notable Big Ten competitors like Aday Mara (Michigan), Rienk Mast (Nebraska), and Hannes Steinbach (Washington). The list is rounded out by six other players: Motiejus Krivas (Arizona), Alex Condon (Florida), Flory Bidunga (Kansas), Henri Veesaar (North Carolina), Zuby Ejiofor (St. John’s), and Tarris Reed Jr. (UConn).
Currently, Cluff boasts impressive season averages of 11.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game, with a remarkable shooting percentage of 74.6% from the field. This exceptional percentage stands as the highest in school history by a considerable margin and ranks him at the top nationally among players who have registered at least 100 field goals.
His performance at Mackey Arena has been particularly noteworthy, where he averages 12.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, shooting an astonishing 82.9% from the field. Cluff has recorded five double-doubles this season, including a standout game against Marquette where he tallied 22 points and 11 rebounds while achieving a perfect 9-for-9 shooting from the field. He also shone in a recent match against Penn State, scoring 23 points with an impressive 10-for-11 shooting performance.
During a matchup against Illinois, Cluff reached a personal milestone by crossing the 1,000-point mark for his collegiate career, which includes time at both Washington State and South Dakota State.
Fans can look forward to seeing Cluff and the Boilermakers in action this Saturday as they take on Oregon at Mackey Arena, with the game set to begin at 1 p.m. ET. As the season progresses, Cluff’s contributions to the team continue to highlight his potential as a leading player in college basketball.