Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award

The Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award is an annual basketball award given to the most outstanding defensive player in men's and women's college basketball.^[1] It has been awarded by the Atlanta Tipoff Club since 2018 and is named in honor of James Naismith, the inventor of the sport.^[1]

Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award

Awarded for	the most outstanding defensive player in college basketball
Country	United States
Presented by	Atlanta Tipoff Club
History
First award	2018
Most recent	Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton (men) Lauren Betts, UCLA (women)
Website	Official website

Key

*	Awarded a national player of the year award: Men – Sporting News; Oscar Robertson Trophy; Associated Press; NABC; Naismith; Wooden Women – Wade; Associated Press; Naismith; Wooden
Player (X)	Denotes the number of times the player has been awarded the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year at that point

Winners

Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton, 2025

Lauren Betts, UCLA, 2025

Men Year Player School Position Class Reference 2017–18 Jevon Carter West Virginia PG Senior [2] 2018–19 Matisse Thybulle Washington SG Senior [3] 2019–20 Marcus Garrett Kansas SG Junior [4] 2020–21 Davion Mitchell Baylor PG Junior [5] 2021–22 Walker Kessler Auburn C Sophomore [6] 2022–23 Jaylen Clark UCLA SG Junior [7] 2023–24 Jamal Shead Houston PG Senior [8] 2024–25 Ryan Kalkbrenner Creighton C Senior [9]

Women Year Player School Position Class Reference 2017–18 Teaira McCowan Mississippi State C Junior [10] 2018–19 Kristine Anigwe California PF / C Senior [11] 2019–20 DiDi Richards Baylor SG Junior [12] 2020–21 Natasha Mack Oklahoma State SF Senior [13] 2021–22 Aliyah Boston* South Carolina PF / C Junior [14] 2022–23 Aliyah Boston (2) South Carolina PF / C Senior [15] 2023–24 Cameron Brink Stanford C Senior [16] 2024–25 Lauren Betts UCLA C Junior [17]