WATCH: Walker Kessler sounds off on former UNC teammates making the national title game
Former North Carolina forward and Auburn Tigers star Walker Kessler congratulated his old teammates and coaches on Sunday for their trip to the national title game. After taking down Duke on Saturday night, the Tar Heels have a date with the Kansas Jayhawks on Monday in New Orleans. Though Kessler opted to leave UNC after one season, he was more than gracious in his comments after winning the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award on Sunday.
“You know, I’m so happy for Coach Davis and the team,” Kessler told reporter Andy Katz. “They’re playing their best basketball and to see them do what they do best, it’s a lot of fun to watch and I’m cheering them all the way.”
Kessler transferred to Auburn after a season at North Carolina and was immediately eligible for 2021 thanks to new NCAA rules. With the Tar Heels, he averaged just 8.8 minutes per game. He still managed to put up 4.4 points in those eight minutes with 3.2 rebounds. However, he really broke out with the Tigers in his sophomore season. He has a hard decision ahead of him in regards to the 2022 NBA Draft.
Kessler earns Naismith Defensive Player of the Year title
On Sunday, Kessler learned that he won the Naismith defensive player of the year award for his record-breaking season with the Tigers. 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. The media also awarded him the SEC Defensive Player of the Year shortly after the SEC Tournament.
On3’s Barkley Truax contributed to this report.