High School

Washington's Matisse Thybulle, an Eastside Catholic grad, named NCAA defensive player of year

University of Washington senior Matisse Thybulle, a former Eastside Catholic standout, was named Naismith Defensive Player of the Year on Sunday morning, edging

Andy Buhler, SBLive Sports

Washington's Matisse Thybulle, an Eastside Catholic grad, named NCAA defensive player of year
Washington's Matisse Thybulle, an Eastside Catholic grad, named NCAA defensive player of year /

University of Washington senior Matisse Thybulle, a former Eastside Catholic standout, was named Naismith Defensive Player of the Year on Sunday morning, edging out Zion Williamson of Duke, Virginia's De'Andre Hunter and Gonzaga's Brandon Clarke.

Thybulle averaged 2.2 blocks and 3.5 steals per game as Washington's defensive play-maker. Also the Pac-12 defensive player of the year, he helped the Huskies reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011 by winning the Pac-12 regular season title.

"To win the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award means the world to me," Thybulle said in a press release. "I've put in the hard work day in and day out, and I have to credit my teammates because they have always had my back both on and off the court. I was only able to accomplish this because of them."

No Title

Truly an honor to get to share this moment with @MatisseThybulle ! We are so proud of him and could not think of anyone more deserving!Husky Nation, join me in congratulating your NATIONAL DPOY!!! #TougherTogether #family pic.twitter.com/wIqXuWnHG1

UW head coach Mike Hopkins said Thybulle's career as a defender is "unlike anything I've ever seen in my 24 years of coaching.

Thybulle began his prep career for Skyline before transferring to Eastside Catholic for his junior and senior seasons, where he became a four-star prospect.

Thybulle is slotted as the 28th best prospect in the 2019 NBA Draft and the seventh-ranked small forward, per ESPN. NBA Draft.net has him as the 40th overall pick (second round) in its latest mock draft.

The Huskies lost in the NCAA Tournament round of 32 to North Carolina, 81-59.

Published
Andy Buhler, SBLive Sports
ANDY BUHLER, SBLIVE SPORTS

Andy Buhler is a Regional Editor of Texas and the national breaking news desk. He brings more than five years of experience covering high school sports across the state of Washington and beyond, where he covered the likes of Paolo Banchero and Tari Eason served on state tournament seeding committees. He works on the SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 national boys basketball rankings. He has covered everything from the Final Four, MLS in Atlanta to local velodrome before diving into the world of preps. His bylines can be found in The News Tribune (Tacoma, Washington), The Associated Press, The Columbian (Vancouver, Washington), The Oregonian and more. He holds a degree from Gonzaga and is based out of Portland, Oregon.

Home/Boys Basketball