title: Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award
text: # 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 |
  