Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award
# Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award

The Naismith College 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. It has been awarded by the Atlanta Tipoff Club since 2018. It is named in honor of James Naismith, who invented the game of basketball.

## Winners

Men's :

| Year | Player | College | Position | Class |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 2017–18 | Jevon Carter | West Virginia | G | Senior |
| 2018–19 | Matisse Thybulle | Washington | G | Senior |
| 2019–20 | Marcus Garrett | Kansas | G | Junior |
| 2020–21 | Davion Mitchell | Baylor | G | Junior |
| 2021–22 | Walker Kessler | Auburn | C | Sophomore |
| 2022–23 | Jaylen Clark | UCLA | G | Junior |

Women's :

| Year | Player | College | Position | Class |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 2017–18 | Teaira McCowan | Mississippi State | C | Junior |
| 2018–19 | Kristine Anigwe | California | C | Senior |
| 2019–20 | DiDi Richards | Baylor | G | Junior |
| 2020–21 | Natasha Mack | Oklahoma State | F | Senior |
| 2021–22 | Aliyah Boston | South Carolina | F | Junior |
| 2022–23 | Aliyah Boston (2) | South Carolina | F | Senior |
