Indiana men’s basketball junior forward Malik Reneau was included on the 2025 Karl Malone Award preseason watchlist, according to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s release Thursday.
The Montverde Academy product is among 20 Division I players selected by a national committee as favorites to receive the award, which honors the top power forward in the country. Reneau could become the second Hoosier to win the award given his former teammate Trayce Jackson-Davis received the honor in 2023.
Reneau, entering his third season with the Hoosiers, averaged career bests in 2023-24 with 15.4 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, earning him an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. In addition to his production, the Miami native was a reliable fixture in an injury-ridden Indiana roster throughout the last season, as one of two Hoosiers to start all 33 games.
During the Cream and Crimson’s 66-62 exhibition win against No. 12 University of Tennessee on Oct. 27, Reneau showcased his ability to be the centerpiece of Indiana’s offense by scoring a game-high 21 points on an efficient 8-for-12 shooting. Reneau will continue to compete for touches in an Indiana frontcourt featuring sixth-year center Oumar Ballo, who was named to a pair of preseason award watchlists himself.
Indiana will face Division III opponent Marian University at 7 p.m., Friday, in an exhibition matchup at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The Hoosiers will begin their regular season against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville at 8 p.m., Nov. 6, in Bloomington.
Follow reporters Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) and Quinn Richards (@Quinn_richa) and columnist Mateo Fuentes-Rohwer (@mateo_frohwer) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s basketball season.
