AUBURN, ALABAMA (EETV)- The front court duo of Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler earned more individual honors for their performances this season on Tuesday when the National Association of Basketball Coaches announced their postseason awards.
Jabari Smith was voted the NABC Freshman of the Year and Walker Kessler was voted the NABC Defensive Player of the year. This is the first time that an Auburn player has earned either of these awards. Smith and Kessler were named to the NABC All-America Teams early this month.
Smith earned this award after averaging 16.9 points per game and 7.4 rebounds per game as a freshman. The SEC Freshman of the Year broke the single-season school record for points as freshman with 576 points.
Smith was also able to record 14 games of 20 plus points and gathered seven double-doubles on the season. His last double-double came in the loss to Miami to close the season.
Kessler was voted the NABC Defensive Player of the Year after setting the single-season block record at Auburn with 155 blocks. That is the most in division I. Kessler was able to turn in 15 games with 5 plus blocks.
The SEC Defensive Player of the Year was able to help out on the offensive side of the ball as he averaged 11.4 points per game and 8.1 rebounds per game. Kessler was able to turn in two triple-doubles this season.
Here is who won the rest of the awards given out:
2021-22 NABC DIVISION I AWARDS
NABC Division I Coach of the Year – Tommy Lloyd, Arizona
NABC Division I Player of the Year – Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky
NABC Pete Newell Big Man of the Year – Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky
NABC Freshman of the Year – Jabari Smith, Auburn
NABC Defensive Player of the Year– Walker Kessler, Auburn
