Gonzaga Bulldogs junior forward Brandon Clarke was named as one of 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year.
Clarke is one of the premier ring protectors in college basketball this season. His 82 total blocks rank him third in the nation, and his 3.0 blocks per game are also the third-best mark in college. He has the fifth highest defensive rating in college, and his defensive box plus/minus is the fourth best mark in the country.
Consistently, Clarke is the one of the top defenders in the country, and having the best block of the season isn’t hurting his cause.