BOSTON, MA -- Merrimack's Juvaris Hayes is the recipient of the 2019-20 Lefty Driesell Award, given annually to the nation’s best defensive player.
Hayes led the nation in steals and set a new NCAA record for career thefts with 457. He led the NCAA in both steal percentage (6.5) and total thefts (121) and his 121 steals are the third most in NEC single-season history. He also led the NCAA and the NEC in steals per game (4.9) and posted nine separate games this season with at least five steals.
Driesell, inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018, 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.
Driesell also led Davidson, Georgia State and James Madison to the NCAA tournament, making him one of three coaches to reach the NCAAs with four different programs. His teams won a total of 16 regular season championships and six tournament championships.
