ATLANTA – The Atlanta Tipoff Club has announced the 2022 Naismith Men's Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalists and Gonzaga's
Chet Holmgren was one of the 10 student-athletes recognized.
Holmgren tied the West Coast Conference record averaging 3.7 blocks per league game, matching Hondre Brewer's mark in 2002. Holmgren is fourth in the nation with 97 blocks and fourth averaging 3.59 blocks per game. His 97 blocked shots are the fourth-most in a single season in WCC history. Former GU player Brandon Clarke owns the record at 117. Holmgren is two blocks shy of seventh for most in a career in program history. The Minneapolis native has more blocks (97) than missed shots from the field (85) so far this season.
Holmgren leads the conference grabbing 9.7 rebounds per game, which is 21
st in the country. He is eighth in the nation pulling down 7.96 defensive boards per outing.
Holmgren is eighth in the WCC averaging 14.4 points per game. He is seventh in the country shooting 61.6 percent from the field, which leads the WCC. The freshman is fifth in the nation making 72.7 percent inside-the-arc.
2022 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalists
| Full Name |
Class |
Pos. |
School |
Conference |
| Tari Eason |
So. |
F |
LSU |
SEC |
| Jacob Gilyard |
Sr. |
G |
Richmond |
Atlantic 10 |
| Chet Holmgren |
Fr. |
C |
Gonzaga |
WCC |
| Walker Kessler |
So. |
F |
Auburn |
SEC |
| Christian Koloko |
Jr. |
C |
Arizona |
Pac-12 |
| Caleb McConnell |
Sr. |
G |
Rutgers |
Big Ten |
| Kevin McCullar |
Jr. |
G |
Texas Tech |
Big 12 |
| Jamarion Sharp |
Jr. |
C |
Western Kentucky |
USA East |
| Oscar Tshiebwe |
Jr. |
F |
Kentucky |
SEC |
| Mark Williams |
So. |
C |
Duke |
ACC |
