GU’s Clarke named national defensive player of the year semifinalist
ATLANTA — Gonzaga’s Brandon Clarke was named one of 10 semifinalists for the 2019 Naismith Men’s Defensive Player of the Year Award Presented by Bona Thursday.
Clarke broke the Zags’ program record for single-season blocks. He has blocked 82 shots this season, surpassing Austin Daye’s previous record of 70. The redshirt junior is sixth on the West Coast Conference’s single-season blocks list. He ranks third in the nation in total blocks and averaging 3.04 blocks per game.
The San Jose State transfer has blocked 197 shots in his career. His 82 blocks this season ranks 10 th on the GU all-time career list.
Clarke averages 16.7 points and a team-high 8.2 rebounds per game. He has eight double-doubles this season.
The No. 2/2 Zags (25-2, 12-0 West Coast Conference) welcome Pepperdine Thursday, before hosting BYU in the final home game of the season Saturday.
Semifinalists for the 2019 Naismith Men’s Defensive Player of the Year Award Presented by Bona
NAME
YEAR
POSITION
SCHOOL
CONFERENCE
Barry Brown, Jr.
Sr.
G
Kansas State
Big 12
Brandon Clarke
Jr.
F
Gonzaga
WCC
Ashton Hagans
Fr.
G
Kentucky
SEC
De’Andre Hunter
So.
G
Virginia
ACC
Tre Jones
Fr.
G
Duke
ACC
Tariq Owens
Sr.
F
Texas Tech
Big 12
Zavier Simpson
Jr.
G
Michigan
Big Ten
Matisse Thybulle
Sr.
G
Washington
Pac-12
Grant Williams
Jr.
F
Tennessee
SEC
Zion Williamson
Fr.
F
Duke
ACC
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