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MID-MAJOR
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR |
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April 3, 2008 |
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 BOSTON
(MA) -- Three
days after being named to the Defensive All-America
team, St. Mary’s Diamon Simpson has been selected as
the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Defensive Player of
the Year.
Simpson was one of sixteen players to receive
Defensive All-America honors from CollegeInsider.com.
The 6-foot-7 junior was named West Coast Conference
Defensive Player of the Year in March.
“This is such an honor for Diamon to be recognized as
the best defender in the country,” says St. Mary’s
head coach Randy Bennett. “He's a great teammate and
an outstanding person, and for him to be recognized as
the top defensive player, with so many talented
athletes in basketball, says a lot for what he has
accomplished in his career at Saint Mary's. His hard
work and determination is paying off.”
A first-team ALL-WCC selection, Simpson paced the
Gaels with 57 blocks, as SMC tallied a WCC-best 169
blocked shots this season, the second most in a single
season in WCC history (SMC set the record last season
with 172).
With four blocks against Fresno State, earlier this
season, Diamon Simpson passed Brad Millard for the
school record in blocked shots with 157. With three
blocks against Miami, in the first round of the NCAA
tournament, Simpson now has 182 blocks and ranks tied
for fourth on the WCC all-time list.
“Diamon Simpson is one of the more under appreciated
players in America,” says CollegeInsider.com’s Matt
Drake. “He brings an energy and intensity to the floor
that is unmatched. He sets the tone with his ability
to defend and create opportunities for his teammates.
He is as important to his team’s success as any player
in the country.”
This season Simpson joined the elite 700-rebound club
at St. Mary’s. Simpson has a total of 751 rebounds,
which includes 276 offensive rebounds in 93 career
games. He became the 25th player in school history to
pass 500 rebounds when he had a career and season-high
16 rebounds against San Diego State earlier this
season. He became just the 16th player to eclipse the
600-rebound mark when he had 10 boards in the
conference opener against Santa Clara. With his 15
rebounds against Kent State, he became the eighth
player in school history to reach 700 career rebounds.
Simpson currently ranks second in school history in
career rebounds. |
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