Posh Alexander Named to Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List

1/27/2022 12:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball

St. John’s sophomore guard leads the BIG EAST and ranks sixth in Division I with 2.5 steals per game

QUEENS, N.Y. – St. John's sophomore guard Posh Alexander has been named to the watch list for the 2022 Naismith Men's Defensive Player of the Year Award, it was announced on Wednesday.

Alexander was one of just 15 individuals nationwide and the only player from the BIG EAST to earn a spot on the watch list.

The reigning BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year, Alexander has built upon the reputation he established a season ago. Through games played on Wednesday, the Brooklyn native leads the conference and ranks sixth in the nation with 2.5 steals per game. Washington's Terrell Brown Jr. is the only player from a major conference with a higher steal average than Alexander.

Last season, Alexander became just the fourth player in conference history to be named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year as a freshman. The other three—Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning and Allen Iverson—are all members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Only Ewing, Iverson and Alexander won the BIG EAST's Freshman of the Year Award in addition to the league's top defensive accolade. He led the BIG EAST and finished sixth overall nationally with 2.6 steals per game. Alexander and former St. John's star Shamorie Ponds are the only freshmen since 2000 to lead the BIG EAST in steals.

Far from a one-dimensional player, Alexander ranks ninth in the BIG EAST this season with 15.0 points per game and second with 4.9 assists per outing. He also shoots 49.7 percent from the floor, good enough for fourth in the league. Despite standing at 6-feet tall, Alexander ranks sixth in the conference with 2.9 offensive rebounds per game.

Alexander and the Red Storm will return to action on Saturday when they travel to face No. 14/12 Villanova at 4:30 p.m. on FOX.

2022 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award Watch List

Walker Kessler, So., F, Auburn
Jacob Gilyard, Sr., G, Richmond
Oscar Tshiebwe, Jr., F, Kentucky
Chet Holmgren, Fr., C, Gonzaga
Jamarion Sharp, Jr., C, Western Kentucky
Christian Koloko, Jr., C, Arizona
Kevin McCullar, Jr., G, Texas Tech
Mark Williams, So., C, Duke
Tari Eason, So., F, LSU
Tyrese Hunger, Fr., G, Iowa State
Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua, Jr., F, Baylor
Kennedy Chandler, Fr., G, Tennessee
Posh Alexander, So., G, St. John's
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Jr., F, Indiana
Nathan Mensah, Sr., F, San Diego State