ATLANTA – Auburn’s Denver Jones (New Market, Ala.) was one of 10 semifinalists as The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced the 2025 Naismith Men's Defensive Player of the Year presented by MOLECULE on Wednesday.
The 2025 Southeastern Conference All-Defensive Team selection was joined on the elite list by Cooper Flagg of Duke, Hayden Gray of UC San Diego, Ryan Kalkbrenner of Creighton, Tamin Lipsey of Iowa State, Jahmai Mashack of Tennessee, Stevie Mitchell of Marquette, Kadary Richmond of St. John's, Joseph Tugler of Houston and Zakai Zeigler of Tennessee.
One of the top on-ball defenders in the country and in the league, Jones has received the top assignment for the Tigers this season limiting multiple opposing teams’ players under their scoring averages this season including against Top 10 competition.
He joins Walker Kessler (2022) and Johni Broome (2024) as the only three players in program history to be named a semifinalist for this prestigious award.
The 2025 Southeastern Conference All-Defensive Team selection was joined on the elite list by Cooper Flagg of Duke, Hayden Gray of UC San Diego, Ryan Kalkbrenner of Creighton, Tamin Lipsey of Iowa State, Jahmai Mashack of Tennessee, Stevie Mitchell of Marquette, Kadary Richmond of St. John's, Joseph Tugler of Houston and Zakai Zeigler of Tennessee.
One of the top on-ball defenders in the country and in the league, Jones has received the top assignment for the Tigers this season limiting multiple opposing teams’ players under their scoring averages this season including against Top 10 competition.
He joins Walker Kessler (2022) and Johni Broome (2024) as the only three players in program history to be named a semifinalist for this prestigious award.
