Elite Defenders Vie for Basketball’s Premier Defensive Honor
Atlanta (March 21, 2025) – The Atlanta Tipoff Club today announced the finalists for the 2025 Naismith Women’s and Men’s Defensive Players of the Year Presented by MOLECULE.
The current season has underscored the exceptional defensive prowess of these finalists,” said Eric Oberman, president of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. “With their outstanding achievements on the court, these players set the standard for defensive excellence in college basketball, making the selection process daunting for our voters.”
The women’s finalists include UCLA’s Lauren Betts, who was named the Big 10’s Defensive Player of the Year. She has led the Bruins to the No. 1 ranking in the nation and is fifth in the country in blocked shots (2.9 bpg). Hannah Hildalgo was named the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season and was fourth in the nation in steals (3.7 spg).
West Virginia’s JJ Quinerly earned her second consecutive Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award, as she was second in the league with 3.11 steals per game while leading her team to the best scoring defense in the conference (55.5 ppg). USC sophomore JuJu Watkins enters the NCAA Tournament, averaging 2.2 steals and 1.9 blocks per game.
| NAME | CLASS | POS | SCHOOL | CONFERENCE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lauren Betts | Junior | C | UCLA | Big 10 |
| Hannah Hildalgo | Sophomore | G | Notre Dame | ACC |
| JJ Quinerly | Senior | G | West Virginia | Big 12 |
| JuJu Watkins | Sophomore | F | USC | Big 10 |
Creighton senior Ryan Kalkbrenner was named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year, becoming only the second player in conference history – alongside Georgetown’s Patrick Ewing – to win the award four times. Joseph Tugler, a sophomore forward from Houston, was named the Defensive Player of the Year in the Big 12. He anchored a Cougar defense that limited opponents to the second-lowest per game average (58.5 ppg) while personally contributing 2.1 blocks per game.
The other finalists are seniors Jahmai Mashack and Zakai Zeigler from Tennessee. Mashack earned a spot on the All-Southeastern Conference Defensive Team, while Zeigler was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. Zeigler made history as the first player to be named to the All-SEC Defensive Team four times.
| NAME | CLASS | POS | SCHOOL | CONFERENCE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Kalkbrenner | Senior | C | Creighton | BIG EAST |
| Jahmai Mashack | Senior | G | Tennessee | SEC |
| Joseph Tugler | Sophomore | F | Houston | Big 12 |
| Zakai Zeigler | Senior | G | Tennessee | SEC |
“MOLECULE is honored to recognize the exceptional defensive prowess of these talented players,” said Kevin Blossom, SVP and General Manager of MOLECULE. “Their defensive excellence is a testament to their dedication, and we look forward to seeing their continued impact in the future for their teams.”
This year, fans will have a say in determining the winner through the Naismith Awards Fan Vote presented by Jersey Mike’s. Starting March 25, fans can visit www.naismithfanvote.com or on X (@naismithtrophy) to cast their ballot for one of these four finalists for the 2025 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year presented by MOLECULE. Voting ends at 12 p.m. EDT on April 1, and fans are limited to one vote per day. The fan vote will account for 5% of the total vote.
This year, fans will have a say in determining the winner through the Naismith Awards Fan Vote presented by Jersey Mike’s. Starting March 25, fans can visit www.naismithfanvote.com or on X (@naismithtrophy) to cast their ballot for one of these four finalists for the 2025 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year presented by MOLECULE. Voting ends at 12 p.m. EDT on April 1, and fans are limited to one vote per day. The fan vote will account for 5% of the total vote.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Mallory Hadaway, Atlanta Tipoff Club
mallory.hadaway@naismithtrophy.com
(256) 682-0599
ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB
Founded during the 1956-57 season, the Atlanta Tipoff Club is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club administers the Naismith Awards, the most prestigious national honors in all of college and high school basketball. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, the family of Naismith Awards annually recognizes the most outstanding men’s and women’s college and high school basketball players and coaches. Other Naismith Awards are presented to the men’s and women’s college basketball defensive players of the year, as well as lifetime achievement awards to basketball officials and outstanding contributors to the game. UCLA’s Lew Alcindor received the first Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy in 1969, while the late Anne Donovan (Old Dominion) was the inaugural women’s recipient in 1983. Corporate partners of the Naismith Awards include AXIA Time, Jersey Mike’s, MOLECULE, Sharpie and Werner Ladder. For more information, visit www.naismithtrophy.com.
ABOUT MOLECULE
MOLECULE, a premier performance sleep company, designs products that are Air-Engineered™ for cooler sleep, helping people achieve optimal rest and recovery so they can maximize performance in their active lifestyles. Developed by a team of renowned sleep scientists, neurologists and engineers, MOLECULE products are trusted by elite athletes such as Alex Morgan and Michael Phelps. MOLECULE products are designed in the USA and are delivered directly to your door with free shipping and risk-free trials. For more information, visit us at http://www.onmolecule.com/