Florida State University Athletics
10/30/2026 1:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Presented by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, the award honors the nation’s top player at the center position
TALLAHASSEE – Florida State's Marcis Ponder is one of 20 players who has been named to the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year preseason watch list. Presented by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, the award honors the nation's top player at the center position.
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Ponder is set to make his official Seminole debut on Monday, Nov. 2, when Florida State opens its season against Florida A&M as part of the Orion180 Tip-Off Classic in Tampa. The Miami native has already made an impression in the preseason, averaging 9.0 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game in the Seminoles' two exhibition victories over Auburn and LSU.
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Ponder turned in a dominant performance against Auburn, recording a double-double with 13 points and 21 rebounds to go along with three rejections.
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A consensus four-star recruit, Ponder was ranked the No. 4 center in the country and the No. 39 prospect nationally in the Class of 2026 by 247Sports.
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The Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year watch list will be narrowed to 10 candidates in late February, with the five finalists announced in March. The award winner and presentation details will be revealed at the Final Four in Detroit. Fan voting will also open following the announcement, giving fans the opportunity to support their favorite candidates.
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Watch List
Motiejus Krivas, Arizona
Oswin Erhunmwunse, Creighton
Patrick Ngongba II, Duke
Rueben Chinyelu, Florida
Marcis Ponder, Florida State
Massamba Diop, Gonzaga
Tomislav Ivisic, Illinois
Andrew McKeever, Iowa
Malachi Moreno, Kentucky
Flory Bidunga, Louisville
Sananda Fru, Marquette
Pharrel Payne, Maryland
Somo Cyril, Miami
Moustapha Thiam, Michigan
Daniel Jacobsen, Purdue
Jaden Toombs, SMU
Matas Vokietaitis, Texas
Luigi Suigo, Villanova
Johann Grunloh, Virginia
Nolan Winter, Wisconsin
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Ponder is set to make his official Seminole debut on Monday, Nov. 2, when Florida State opens its season against Florida A&M as part of the Orion180 Tip-Off Classic in Tampa. The Miami native has already made an impression in the preseason, averaging 9.0 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game in the Seminoles' two exhibition victories over Auburn and LSU.
Â
Ponder turned in a dominant performance against Auburn, recording a double-double with 13 points and 21 rebounds to go along with three rejections.
Â
A consensus four-star recruit, Ponder was ranked the No. 4 center in the country and the No. 39 prospect nationally in the Class of 2026 by 247Sports.
Â
The Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year watch list will be narrowed to 10 candidates in late February, with the five finalists announced in March. The award winner and presentation details will be revealed at the Final Four in Detroit. Fan voting will also open following the announcement, giving fans the opportunity to support their favorite candidates.
Â
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Watch List
Motiejus Krivas, Arizona
Oswin Erhunmwunse, Creighton
Patrick Ngongba II, Duke
Rueben Chinyelu, Florida
Marcis Ponder, Florida State
Massamba Diop, Gonzaga
Tomislav Ivisic, Illinois
Andrew McKeever, Iowa
Malachi Moreno, Kentucky
Flory Bidunga, Louisville
Sananda Fru, Marquette
Pharrel Payne, Maryland
Somo Cyril, Miami
Moustapha Thiam, Michigan
Daniel Jacobsen, Purdue
Jaden Toombs, SMU
Matas Vokietaitis, Texas
Luigi Suigo, Villanova
Johann Grunloh, Virginia
Nolan Winter, Wisconsin
Players Mentioned
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