Gary Payton II was voted the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year as selected by a vote of the conference coaches, Commissioner Larry Scott announced Monday.
Payton II is the first player to be named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year two times after winning the award a year ago in his first season with the Beavers. His father, Hall of Famer Gary Payton (1986-87), and Seth Tarver (2009-10) were the other Oregon State players to be selected the conference’s top defender. After the elder Payton won the honor in 1987, the league discontinued the award until it was reinstated in 2008.