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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 13.8px;"><b>BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – Oct. 30, 2025</b></span></h1>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; color: black;"><b>Baylor MBB’s Michael Rataj Recognized on Karl Malone Preseason Watch List</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; color: black; background-color: white;"><b><i>Rataj featured as one of nation’s top 20 power forwards </i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>For more information contact:
</b>Josie Hutton; 254-709-7720, </span><span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; color: rgb(150, 96, 125);"><u><a href="mailto:josie_hutton@baylor.edu" data-outlook-id="30e855ac-d949-4f48-bd02-8a67d500023f" style="color: rgb(150, 96, 125); margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">josie_hutton@baylor.edu</a></u></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>SPRINGFIELD, Mass. –</b> The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the 20 watch list candidates for the 2026 Karl Malone Award, including Baylor men’s basketball’s Michael
Rataj. </span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The annual Karl Malone Award, named after the Class of 2010 Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, is recognized in its 12<sup>th</sup> year by naming the top
power forwards in DI men’s basketball. </span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Rataj, an Oregon State transfer, was a Karl Malone Award Top-10 honoree during his junior season for the Beavers. Rataj was named to the NABC All-Pacific District Second Team,
in addition to the All-West Coast Conference First Team for the 2024-25 season. </span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The three-time WCC Player of the Week last season finished fourth in the conference in points per game, sixth in rebounds per game and fifth in steals. The senior scored in
double-figures 28 times in 32 games and is 42 shy of 1,000 career points.</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Over the summer, Rataj competed for Team Germany at the FISU World University Games, being named the Best Forward of the tournament. During Baylor’s exhibition against Indiana,
the Augsburg, Germany, native put up 12 points and eight rebounds. </span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting starting Friday, October 31. In late January, the watch list of 20 players will be narrowed to 10, and
then in late February, to just five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Malone, McClain, and the Hall of Fame’s selection committees, where winners will be selected.</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>KARL MALONE POWER FORWARD PRESEASON WATCH LIST</b></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Koa Peat, Arizona</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Keyshawn Hall, Auburn</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>Michael Rataj, Baylor</b></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Alex Karaban, UConn</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Cameron Boozer, Duke</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Alvaro Folgueiras, Iowa</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Graham Ike, Gonzaga</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Joseph Tugler, Houston</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Malik Reneau, Miami</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Thomas Haugh, Florida</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Caleb Wilson, North Carolina</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Baye Ndongo, Georgia Tech</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Bryce Hopkins, St. John’s</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Donnie Freeman, Syracuse</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">JT Toppin, Texas Tech</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Nick Martinelli, Northwestern</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: black;"><i><u><a href="http://www.baylorbears/" data-outlook-id="acbd058b-ee92-449a-9370-f997d46d290a" style="color: black; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> - BaylorBears</a>.com</u> -</i></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(15, 92, 26);"><b>Josie Hutton</b></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black;"> | Associate Director of Athletics Communications (MBB, FB,
MTEN) </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black;">Department of Athletics | Baylor University</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black;">C: (254) 709-7720</span></p>
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