University of Washington guard Matisse Thybulle (4) is locked in while playing defense against the Stanford Cardinal. The Washington Huskies played the Stanford Cardinal in a NCAA basketball game at Hec Edmundson Pavilion in Seattle, Wash., on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019. Joshua Bessex joshua.bessex@gateline.com
Washington senior guard Matisse Thybulle was named the 2019 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year on Sunday.
The other finalists were Duke’s Zion Williamson, Gonzaga’s Brandon Clarke and Virgnia’s De’Andre Hunter. Thybulle was given the award at a brunch in Minneapolis.
Thybulle led the country with 3.5 steals per game and was 18th in blocks per game with 2.