Gonzaga’s Brandon Clarke on watch list for Naismith Defensive Player of Year Award

Gonzaga’s Brandon Clarke has been named to the midseason watch list for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Clarke is one of 15 on the list.

Clarke is closing in on Gonzaga’s single-season blocks record. The 6-foot-8 forward has 64, third nationally. Austin Daye holds the record with 70 in 2009. Clarke’s 3.2 blocks per game ranks third in WCC history.

Clarke, who has 176 career blocks counting his two seasons at San Jose State, is third on the team with 1.4 steals per game. He leads the Zags in rebounding at 7.8 per game.

The Zags have faced three players on the watch list: Washington’s Matisse Thybulle; Tennessee’s Grant Williams; and Duke’s Zion Williamson.

West Virginia’s Jevon Carter won the inaugural award last season.