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UNLV’s Stephen Zimmerman makes watch list for top centers award

UNLV‘s Stephen Zimmerman (33) drives the ball during the Scarlet and Gray scrimmage at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
UNLV‘s Dwayne Morgan drives the ball against Stephen Zimmerman (33) during the Scarlet and Gray scrimmage at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto
UNLV‘s Stephen Zimmerman Jr. (33) goes up for a dunk during a team practice inside Mendenhall Center at UNLV in Las Vegas Monday, Oct. 5, 2015. Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @Erik_Verduzco
UNLV forward Stephen Zimmerman Jr. (33) fouls guard Jerome Seagears (3) during UNLV‘s Scarlet and Gray scrimmage at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015. Josh Holmberg/Las Vegas Review-Journal
UNLV‘s Stephen Zimmerman Jr. (33) dunks the ball during a basketball team workout inside Mendenhall Center at UNLV in Las Vegas Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
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By Matt Youmans Las Vegas Review-Journal
October 16, 2015 - 12:56 pm
 

Is UNLV freshman Stephen Zimmerman overhyped or could he be the next Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?

It's a trick question. Zimmerman is receiving plenty of preseason hype, and the 7-footer from Bishop Gorman High probably deserves it. A few days after being voted the Mountain West's Preseason Freshman of the Year, Zimmerman was named to the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award watch list, which was announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

This is an obscure award just in its second year of existence, but it's named in honor of a three-time NCAA champion so it means something. The Abdul-Jabbar award recognizes the top centers in college basketball.

Zimmerman is listed as a forward on the Rebels' roster, and the sky hook is not part of his offensive arsenal, but those are irrelevant details because he will play some center this season.

The watch list has 20 candidates. Zimmerman is the only Mountain West big man to make the list.

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow him on Twitter: @mattyoumans247

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