Oscar Tshiebwe makes Naismith Men’s Defensive POY 2022 Watch List

Oscar Tshiebwe has become famous for his ability to clean the glass, but he also possesses some sneaky good tools on the defensive end of the ball that goes beyond simply securing rebounds. On Thursday afternoon, Tshiebwe was one of 15 college basketball players tabbed to the Naismith Men’s Defensive Player of the Year 2022 Watch List.

The No. 12 Kentucky Wildcats big man leads the entire country in defensive rebounds per game (9.9) while also registering 1.6 blocks and 1.6 steals per outing, as well. He is one of just five Divison I players, and the only one on this DPOY Watch List, in 2021-22 averaging at least 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks. Tshiebwe is doing this while fouling at a far lower figure than his previous two college seasons.

Check out the list down below

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— The Naismith Trophy (@NaismithTrophy) January 27, 2022

As a whole player, Tshiebwe is right in the thick of the race for National Player of the Year. Through 20 games for Kentucky this season, the 6-foot-9, 255-pounder is posting 16.3 points and 15.2 rebounds on 61.5 percent shooting from the field. He’s already recorded several 20-rebound games and recently dropped a 20-20 performance on Mississippi State. Ken Pomeroy has Tshiebwe as the leader for National POY as of Jan. 27.

Tshiebwe isn’t the only familiar name to make the DPOY Watch List, either. Western Kentucky’s 7-foot-5 shot-blocking center, Jamarion Sharp, also made the 15-player watch list. He currently leads the NCAA in total blocked shots (83) and also hauls in 5.5 defensive boards per outing.

Naismith Men’s Defensive Player of the Year 2022 Watch List

Posh Alexander – St. John’s
Kennedy Chandler – Tennessee
Tari Eason – LSU
Jacob Gilyard – Richmond
Chet Holmgren – Gonzaga
Tyrese Hunter – Iowa State
Trayce Jackson-Davis – Indiana
Walker Kessler – Auburn
Christian Koloko – Arizona
Kevin McCullar – Texas Tech
Nathan Mensah – San Diego State
Jamarion Sharp – Western Kentucky University
Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua – Baylor
Oscar Tshiebwe – Kentucky
Mark Williams – Duke