College basketball rankings: Creighton, Michigan and Arizona State keep rising in Power 36
The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced its 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Men’s Defensive Player of the Year, the award given to the top defender in men's college basketball.
Last year, Washington's Matisse Thybulle took home the award.
NAISMITH POY: See the 30 candidates for this season's player of the year award
Highlighting the list is Baylor. The Bears are the only team with two players on the semifinalist breakdown with sophomore Davion Mitchell and junior Mark Vital both making the cut.
The list will be narrowed down to four finalists on March 12 before a winner is named on April 5.
| NAME | CLASS | POSITION | SCHOOL | CONFERENCE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mamadi Diakite | Sr. | F | Virginia | ACC |
| Marcus Garrett | Jr. | G | Kansas | Big 12 |
| Romaro Gill | Sr. | C | Seton Hall | Big East |
| Jacob Gilyard | Jr. | G | Richmond | Atlantic 10 |
| Ashton Hagans | So. | G | Kentucky | SEC |
| Tre Jones | So. | G | Duke | ACC |
| Davion Mitchell | So. | G | Baylor | Big 12 |
| Zavier Simpson | Sr. | G | Michigan | Big Ten |
| Aaron Thompson | Jr. | G | Butler | Big East |
| Mark Vital | Jr. | G/F | Baylor | Big 12 |
