NEW ORLEANS, LA -- Saint Peter’s K.C. Ndefo is the winner of the 2022 Lefty Driesell Award, presented annually to the top defensive player in Division I basketball.

Ndefo, a 6-7 forward, anchored the suffocating defense St. Peter’s relied on to win the MAAC Championship and make an unprecedented NCAA tournament run from a 15 seed to the Elite 8. The Peacocks were 25th in adjusted defensive efficiency and top 25 in 2-point defense, 3-point defense and blocked shots. 

On Feb. 4 he had a career-best 11 blocks in a winner of Quinnipiac and is the school’s all-time leader in that category.

The three-time MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, he blocked 96 shots this season to finish with more than 300 in his career. Ndefo also finished just shy of 500 career defensive rebounds.

Saint Peter’s defeated Kentucky, Murray State and Purdue in the NCAA tournament before falling to North Carolina and finished the season with 22 victories. Ndefo blocked six shots vs. the Tar Heels.

The Lefty Driesell Award, which is presented annually to the top defensive player in Division I basketball, is named in honor of the legendary former coach.

Driesell won 786 games in 41 years at Davidson, Maryland, James Madison and Georgia State. He ranks eighth on the NCAA career Division I coaches victories list and his teams at each stop were known for playing tenacious defense. From 1969-1986 at Maryland, his teams posted a 348-159 record, won two Atlantic Coast Conference regular season titles and one tournament title.

Driesell also led Davidson, Georgia State and James Madison to the NCAA tournament, making him one of three coaches to reach the NCAAs with four different programs. His teams won a total of 16 regular season championships and six tournament championships.

2021-22 LEFTY DRIESELL DEFENSIVE ALL-AMERICA TEAM