BOSTON, Ma. (April 1, 2022) - KC Ndefo, the best defensive player in the history of Saint Peter's University men's basketball, has solidified his spot atop that list with another accolade as he was announced as the Lefty Driesell National Defensive Player of the Year Friday as selected by CollegeInsider.com.
Ndefo, who finished his career as the all-time leader in blocked shots in a career and holds the record for each of the top two single-season totals in program history, adds this award to his already full trophy case after being named the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year for the third straight season in March.
The Lefty Driesell Award, which is presented annually to the top defensive player in Division I basketball, is named in honor of the legendary former coach.
Driesell won 786 games in 41 years at Davidson, Maryland, James Madison and Georgia State. He ranks eighth on the NCAA career Division I coaches victories list and his teams at each stop were known for playing tenacious defense. From 1969-1986 at Maryland, his teams posted a 348-159 record, won two Atlantic Coast Conference regular season titles and one tournament title.
This season, Ndefo racked up a school record 96 blocked shots while also leading the team with 43 steals. A three-time All-MAAC selection, Ndefo averaged 10.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game on the year and also set another program record on Feb. 4, 2022 when he swatted 11 shots in a single game to lead SPU to a win over Quinnipiac.
A force at the rim, the Elmont, N.Y., native totaled 310 blocks in four seasons with the Peacocks, good for the second-most among active players in Division I.
Earlier this season, Ndefo joined the 1,000-point club and became the only person in SPU men's basketball history to have 1,000 points, 600 rebounds and 300 blocks in a career. He ranks inside the top-12 in program history in career blocks, steals, assists and rebounds.
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