Tennessee's Grant Williams a semifinalist for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award

Tennessee's Grant Williams passes under heavy defensive pressure during the Vols' home win against South Carolina on Feb. 13.
Tennessee's Grant Williams passes under heavy defensive pressure during the Vols' home win against South Carolina on Feb. 13.
photo Tennessee's Grant Williams passes under heavy defensive pressure during the Vols' home win against South Carolina on Feb. 13.

KNOXVILLE - The Atlanta Tipoff Club has named Tennessee junior forward Grant Williams one of 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Williams leads the Vols this season in rebounds (7.6 per game), steals (30) and charges drawn (seven), and his 39 blocks are second on the team to Kyle Alexander (47). Williams is the only Vol with at least 20 blocks and 20 steals this season.

The 2018 SEC player of the year, Williams has multiple blocks in 13 games this season and multiple steals in 10, with four games of both multiple blocks and steals, including three blocks and two steals to go with 22 points and 10 rebounds against Wake Forest on Dec. 22.

For the season, Williams has averaged 19.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 58 percent from the field and making 83 percent of his free throws.

The only other SEC player who is a semifinalist for the Naismith honor is Kentucky freshman guard Ashton Hagans.

Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3 or at Facebook.com/VolsUpdate.

Upcoming Events