Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Michigan State on November 10, 2026 at TBA
/
TBA
Men's Basketball
vs Michigan State
Williams Named Finalist for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year
3/15/2022 1:22:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ATLANTA – Duke sophomore Mark Williams has been named one of four finalists for the Naismith Men's Defensive Player of the Year Award, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Tuesday.
Williams leads the ACC and ranks 12th nationally in blocked shots per game (2.76), while his 94 total blocks are the fifth most in the NCAA. The Virginia Beach, Va., native has 27 games with multiple rejections this season, the third-most nationally and tied for the most among power conference players.
The ACC Defensive Player of the Year is also seventh in the league in rebounds (7.4), while his 7.9 boards in conference play ranked third. He has nine double-doubles, including four in his last nine games. Williams recently brought down 8+ defensive rebounds in three straight contests – 10 vs. North Carolina on March 5, nine vs. Syracuse on March 10 and eight vs. Miami on March 11.
The Naismith Men's Defensive Player of the Year has been awarded each season since 2017-18. Williams joins Auburn's Walker Kessler, Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren and Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe as this year's finalists.
Williams is the third Duke player to be named a finalist, following Zion Williamson (2019) and Tre Jones (2020).
#GoDuke
Williams leads the ACC and ranks 12th nationally in blocked shots per game (2.76), while his 94 total blocks are the fifth most in the NCAA. The Virginia Beach, Va., native has 27 games with multiple rejections this season, the third-most nationally and tied for the most among power conference players.
The ACC Defensive Player of the Year is also seventh in the league in rebounds (7.4), while his 7.9 boards in conference play ranked third. He has nine double-doubles, including four in his last nine games. Williams recently brought down 8+ defensive rebounds in three straight contests – 10 vs. North Carolina on March 5, nine vs. Syracuse on March 10 and eight vs. Miami on March 11.
The Naismith Men's Defensive Player of the Year has been awarded each season since 2017-18. Williams joins Auburn's Walker Kessler, Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren and Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe as this year's finalists.
Williams is the third Duke player to be named a finalist, following Zion Williamson (2019) and Tre Jones (2020).
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
C
/ Men's BasketballTuesday, March 31
Tuesday, March 31
Tuesday, March 31
Tuesday, March 31
