The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
10.29.2026 | Men's Basketball
Junior David Punch is one of 20 players on watch list for award that recognizes the top power forward in men’s college basketball.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — University of Texas Men's Basketball junior David Punch is one of 20 preseason watch list candidates for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced Thursday. Named after the Class of 2010 Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Karl Malone, the annual honor now in its 13th year recognizes the top power forward in Division I men's college basketball.
The list will be narrowed down to 10 players in February with plans to announce the five finalists in March. The winner of the 2027 Karl Malone Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date. The list will remain fluid, and players will have the ability to play themselves on or off the list until the five finalists are selected.
Punch elected to transfer from TCU following the 2025-26 season. He has played in 66 career games (61 starts) and registered two-year career totals of 687 points, 370 rebounds and 94 blocks in 1,661 minutes. Punch earned honorable mention All-Big 12 Conference and NABC All-Gulf District First Team honors last year.
Punch played in 34 of a possible 35 games (34 starts) and led the team in scoring (14.1 ppg), rebounding (6.8 rpg) and blocks (66), ranked second in steals (45) and third in assists (68) and minutes (29.7 mpg) last season. He helped the Horned Frogs post a 23-12 mark (11-7 Big 12) and advance to the NCAA Tournament Round of 32. Punch was also selected to the Preseason Media All-SEC Third Team.
No. 7/7 Texas opens the 2026-27 regular season with a home contest against Chicago State on Monday, Nov. 2. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. Central in Moody Center, and the contest will be televised nationally by SEC Network.
For more information on the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award and the latest updates, visit www.hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu and #MaloneAward on X and Instagram.
2026-27 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award Preseason Watch List
|
Player |
School |
|
Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje |
Duke |
|
Alex Condon |
Florida |
|
Jaylen Crocker-Johnson |
Minnesota |
|
Keanu Dawes |
Kansas |
|
Thijs De Ridder |
Virginia |
|
Xavier Edmonds |
TCU |
|
J.P. Estrella |
Michigan |
|
Keyshawn Hall |
St. John's |
|
Na'jai Hines |
UConn |
|
Braden Huff |
Gonzaga |
|
Jaxon Kohler |
BYU |
|
David Mirkovic |
Illinois |
|
Paulius Murauskas |
Arizona State |
|
Miikka Muurinen |
Arkansas |
|
Caden Pierce |
Purdue |
|
TEXAS |
|
|
Malik Reneau |
Miami (Fla.) |
|
Aiden Sherrell |
Indiana |
|
JT Toppin |
Texas Tech |
|
Joseph Tugler |
Houston |
