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UVA basketball's Clark named to Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watch list

Virginia Gonzaga Basketball
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (UVA Athletics) – Virginia’s Kihei Clark (Woodland Hills, Calif.) is one of 15 players named to the watch list for the 2021 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, announced Thursday (Jan. 28).

Clark spearheads Virginia’s eighth-ranked defense, which is yielding 59.5 points per game. Clark, who is one of college basketball’s best on-ball defenders, has averaged 9.7 points and ranks second in the ACC in assist/turnover ratio (2.3) and fourth in assists (4.5).

No. 8 Virginia (11-2, 7-0 ACC) plays at No. 20 Virginia Tech on Saturday, Jan. 30. Tipoff at Cassell Coliseum is set for 6 p.m. on ACC Network and Virginia Sports Radio Network.

2021 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List

Charles Bassey, Jr., C, Western Kentucky

Jared Butler, Jr., G, Baylor

Justin Champagnie, So., F, Pitt

Kihei Clark, Jr., G, Virginia

Marcus Garrett, Sr., G, Kansas

Jacob Gilyard, Sr., G, Richmond

Herb Jones, Sr., G/F, Alabama

DeVante’ Jones, Jr., G, Coastal Carolina

Davion Mitchell, Jr., G, Baylor

Evan Mobley, Fr., F, USC

Yves Pons, Sr., G/F, Tennessee

Neemias Querta, Jr., C, Utah State

Aamir Simms, Sr., Fr, Clemson

Mark Vital, Sr., G/F, Baylor

Franz Wagner, So., G, Michigan