Auburn big man Walker Kessler named Naismith Defensive Player of the Year

Auburn big man Walker Kessler has won the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year after a year in which he averaged 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per game, shattering Auburn’s single season blocks record with 144 total on the season.

Kessler, the first Auburn player to ever take home the national defensive honor, beat out Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren, Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe and Duke’s Mark Williams for the annual award.

Last week, Kessler took also home the NABC Defensive Player of the Year honor and was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year shortly after the SEC Tournament.

Kessler transferred to Auburn after a year at North Carolina and emerged as one of the nation’s top defensive players. He averaged 4.6 blocks per game to go with his 11.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. He also had two triple-doubles this year with points, rebounds and blocks — the most in Division I — and 15 games with 15 points and five blocks.

Auburn had quite a year in 2021-22, going 28-6 overall and 15-3 in SEC play. The Tigers ended up ranked No. 1 at one point in the season for the first time in program history. Their season came to an end in the NCAA Tournament against Miami in the second round, a 79-61 Hurricanes victory.

Auburn guard Zep Jasper makes decision on future

Auburn point guard Zep Jasper currently plans to use his additional year of eligibility granted during the COVID-19 pandemic to play with the Tigers, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein. The formerly unranked recruit from the 2016 recruiting class started all 32 of his games at Auburn last season.

Zep Jasper, a 6-foot-1 guard from the state of Georgia, transferred to play for Bruce Pearl at Auburn after three seasons at College of Charleston. While there, he made the 2020-21 All-CAA team and All-Defensive team before becoming a coveted prospect.

In 2021-22, Jasper averaged 5.1 points and 2.1 assists while shooting 36.6 percent from the 3-point line. Despite a career-low 23 minutes per game, he made a major impact on both ends of the floor and helped lead Auburn to a regular season SEC title.