The winner of the 2025 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award will be announced soon, and on Friday the 4 finalists were revealed. Of those finalists, 2 hail from the same team.
The players in question – Zakai Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack – both play for Tennessee and anchor a simply suffocating Vols defense. Tennessee has perhaps the best defensive unit in the country, and it’s thanks to Mashack, Zeigler, rim protector Felix Okpara and the rest of Rick Barnes’ impressive unit.
Joining Mashack and Zeigler as finalists for the award are Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner and Houston’s Joseph Tugler.
??? ???? ????????? ?? ??? ???? ?Introducing our 2025 Naismith Men's College Defensive Player of the Year Finalists, presented by @moleculesleep ?#MOLECULENaismith2025 | #MOLECULEsleep pic.twitter.com/91dNJVljPu
— Naismith Awards (@NaismithTrophy) March 21, 2025Both Zeigler and Mashack have already earned honors for their defensive prowess this season. Zeigler, for the 2nd straight season, was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year a few weeks ago. Mashack, on the other hand, was named the Field of 68 Defensive Player of the Year last week.
This award is especially relevant following a record-breaking Round of 64 matchup against Wofford for Zeigler, who became Tennessee’s all-time leader in assists after becoming the Vols’ all-time leader in steals back in January.
Mashack and Zeigler are big reasons why Tennessee is a favorite for many to make a deep run in the tournament. Tennessee as a program is still searching for a trip to the Final Four – can Mashack and Zeigler deliver?
Zakai Zeigler, Jahmai Mashack tabbed finalists for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Saturday Down South.
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