THE LEFTY DRIESELL AWARD

2107 Lefty Driesell Award

April 4, 2017

2017 LEFTY DRIESELL AWARD
 
PHOENIX, AZ -- West Virginia’s Jevon Carter is the recipient of the 2017 Lefty Driesell award, which is presented annually to the nation's top defensive player.
 
The Mountaineers’ point guard was the key ingredient on one of the nation’s most aggressive defensive teams. Carter, a solidly built 6-2, 200 pound junior, applied fierce ball pressure and helped Coach Bob Huggins’ squad force turnovers on 27 percent of opponent’s possessions, which led the nation.
 
Carter led the Big 12 with 2.5 steals per game as part of the “Press Virginia’ attack built around deflections and disruption. The Mountaineers swiped 10 steals per game.
 
“Jevon Carter plays defense like it’s his girlfriend – he absolutely loves it,” says CollegeInsider.com’s Angela Lento. “Few players bring a toughness and a dedication to the defensive end of the floor.”
 
West Virginia was also fourth in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency, holding teams to 66.7 points per game.

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.
 
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.

2017 LEFTY DRIESELL DEFENSIVE ALL-AMERICA TEAM

Jaylin Airington CSU Bakersfield
Dakarai Allen San Diego State
Ehab Amin Texas A&M Corpus Christi
Jordan Bell Oregon
Tim Bond Eastern Michigan
Chris Boucher Oregon
Devontae Cacok UNCW
Jevon Carter West Virginia
Joseph Chartouny Fordham
Tacko Fall UCF
Ethan Happ Wisconsin
Tra-Deon Hollins Omaha
Ben Lammers Georgia Tech
Paris Lee Illinois State
Reggie Lynch Minnesota
Hassan Martin Rhode Island
Tahjere McCall Tennessee State
Chazz Patterson Saint Peter's
Joe Rahon Saint Mary's
Khyri Thomas Creighton
Liam Thomas Nicholls State
Isaiah Wilkins Virginia
Jay Wright UL Lafayette
Sindarius Thornwell South Carolina
Derrick White Colorado

 

The Lefty Driesell Award, given 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.
 
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.
 
The Lefty Driesell award voting panel is made up of current division I coaches, athletic administrators, and senior College Insider staff members.  The recipient of the 2024-25 award will be announced in April, in San Antonio, TX site of the men's Division I NCAA Basketball Championship.
 
 

The Lefty Driesell award is presented annually to the top defensive player in division I college basketball, as voted on by the award committee.

The 10-member voting committee consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com.

The award is presented annually at the site of the men's Division I NCAA basketball championship. 

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