NCAA.com correspondent Andy Katz put out his list of top 11 candidates for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar award which included Michigan basketball’s Jon Teske.

The Kareem Abdul-Jabbar award is given to the nations top center every year and this year it could be Jon Teske of Michigan basketball; however, judging by his competition, he’s going to have to step up big time.

According to Andy Katz, Teske made the list at No. 7 which is impressive considering the other guys on the list could already be starters on professional teams.

The No. 2 candidate, Memphis commit James Wiseman, would be in the NBA – if not for the archaic requirement to make High School guys play one year in college.

Here is what Katz wrote about the Michigan basketball big man:

“Teske was one of the most improved players in the country last season. John Beilein gave him more confidence in the Big Ten tournament in 2018, and then Teske shined taking over for Mo Wagner last season. Juwan Howard should love his thirst for knowledge. Teske will have a chance to be an all-Big Ten player as a senior.”

Everyone on that team knows what they lost in the trio of starters and those who stayed know what they have to do to mimic last season. Now with Juwan Howard at the helm and recruiting is in full swing, hopefully, the Wolverines can add some much-needed talent to a squad which is very thin at the SG position and could add depth just about anywhere else.

The 7-foot-1-inch import from Ohio showed immense improvement between the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, going from 3.4 points-per-game to 9.5 and increasing his rebounds from 135 to 259. Even his total blocks went from 26 to 75 and some would attribute that to his increased playing time with the early departure of Moritz Wagner to the NBA but when you review the advanced stats here, it becomes clear Jon did everything he could to fill Mo’s shoes. Consider his Player Efficiency Rating which went from 19.9 to 22.4 or his Defensive Win Shares bumping up from 1.3 to 3.1.

Top #KareemAward candidates from @TheAndyKatz! 1. Udoka Azubuike

2. James Wiseman

3. Kaleb Wesson

4. Charles Bassey

5. Steven Enoch

6. Matt Haarms

7. Jon Teske

8. Omer Yurtseven

9. Daniel Oturu

10. Neemias Queta

11. Chase Jeter 14 more:

👉 https://t.co/MgKHD67hr8 pic.twitter.com/hAZRKSYlEf — NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) June 7, 2019

Jon has shown he belongs on the list which includes No.11. Chase Jeter from Arizona, and No. 10. Neemias Queta from Utah State. At No. 9 Daniel Oturu, Minnesota, No. 8 Omer Yurtseven, Georgetown, No. 6 Matt Haarms, Purdue, and No. 5 Steven Enoch, Louisville.

No. 4 through 1 are as follows: Charles Bassey, Western Kentucky, Kaleb Wesson, Ohio State, James Wiseman, Memphis, and Udoka Azubuike, Kansas.