Jaylen Clark Named Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Finalist

Despite being out for the Pac-12 and NCAA tournaments, the Bruins' defensive ace is still garnering recognition for his stellar season.

His season may be over, but Jaylen Clark isn't done contending for hardware.

The UCLA men's basketball guard was named a finalist for the Naismith Men's Defensive Player of the Year Award on Tuesday. The wing – who was named to the midseason watch list on Jan. 26 and a semifinalist on Feb. 28 – is in contention to be the first Bruin to take home the honor since it was introduced in 2018.

Northwestern's Chase Audige, Rutgers' Caleb McConnell and Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner of Creighton are the award's other three finalists.

Clark went down with a lower leg injury in the regular season finale against Arizona on March 4, and he missed the Pac-12 tournament as a result. In his Selection Sunday press conference, coach Mick Cronin said Clark would miss the NCAA tournament as well.

According to a report from Stadium's Jeff Goodman, Clark suffered an Achilles injury.

Clark averaged 13.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 0.3 blocks per game in 30 appearances this season. Clark leads UCLA and the Pac-12 in steals per game, steal percentage, defensive rating, defensive box plus/minus and overall box plus/minus.

With a defensive rating of 85.3, Clark posted the lowest mark of any Bruin since the stat started being tracked in the 2009-2010 season.

After recording seven steals in the season opener, Clark has reached four steals in six other games, including the regular season finale. Clark has finished with three or more steals in 15 of his last 22 games, and he was averaging 2.8 steals per game since Dec. 10.

Coming into this season, Clark had 10 multi-steal performances across 60 games. This year, he did so 23 times in 30 appearances.

Clark ranks No. 7 in the country in steals per game, No. 9 in steal percentage, No. 4 in defensive rating, No. 4 in defensive win shares and No. 1 in defensive box plus/minus.

Clark was the main cog on defense for a UCLA team that ranks No. 1 in opponent adjusted points allowed per 100 possessions, per KenPom. The Bruins' defense also ranks No. 1 in the Pac-12 and No. 7 in the country with 60.3 points allowed per game.

Last season, Clark made the All-Pac-12 Defensive Team while coming off the bench. This season, he again made the All-Pac-12 Defensive Team to go along with Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year honors, and he could take home the top defensive honor in the nation thanks to his bigger role.

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