BOSTON -- The finalists for the 2015 Lefty Driesell National Defensive Player of the Year award were announced on Monday and North Florida junior standout
Demarcus Daniels was among those listed.
Daniels, who was named the Atlantic Sun Conference Defensive Player of the Year and A-Sun Tournament MVP, set a new UNF program record with 55 blocked shots this season and led the conference. He currently ranks second all-time for career blocks at North Florida with 106. In addition to being a finalist, Daniels was named a member of the 2015 Left Driesell All-America Team
"When you have God given talent and a high basketball IQ," said UNF head coach
Matthew Driscoll. "The defensive side of things can look easy and that is what Demarcus makes it look like every night. I've coached a lot of great defenders and he is definitely one of the best I have ever been associated with. This is a tremendous honor for him and our program and we are thrilled for him."
The Lefty Driesell award is named in honor of coaching legend Lefty Driesell, who is the only person to ever win 100 games at four different Division I schools. He is best known for his time at Maryland, leading the program to the National Invitational Tournament title in 1972 and its second-ever ACC Tournament Championship in 1984. He finished his career at Maryland with a 348-159 record and concluded his career with an impressive 786-394 mark.
The recipient of the 2015 award will be announced at the CollegeInsider.com Awards Banquet on April 3 in Indianapolis, site of the 2015 men's division I basketball championship.
2015 LEFTY DRIESELL ALL-AMERICA TEAMKarl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky
Darion Atkins, Virginia
Gary Bell Jr., Gonzaga
Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia
Willie Cauley-Stien, Kentucky
Rakeem Christmas, Syracuse
Kyle Collinsworth, BYU
Tekele Cotton, Wichita State
Demarcus Daniels North FloridaNnanna Egwu, Illinois
Jerian Grant, Notre Dame
Jelani Hewitt, Georgia Southern
Anthony Hickey, Oklahoma State
Brice Johnson, North Carolina
Reggie Lynch, Illinois State
T.J. McConnell, Arizona
Jordan Mickey, LSU
Shonn Miller, Cornell
Larry Nance, Wyoming
Josh Richardson, Tennessee
Richard Ross, Old Dominion
Justin Tuoyo, Chattanooga
Corey Walden, Eastern Kentucky
Julian Washburn, UTEP
Briante Weber, VCU
Jay Wright, Louisiana-Lafayette
