Rutgers star Clifford Omoruyi on Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watchlist
It’s been a stellar 2023-24 campaign for Rutgers senior Clifford Omoryui, who is getting national recognition after he was named to the 2024 Naismith Women’s and Men’s Defensive Player of…
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND – FEBRUARY 06: Clifford Omoruyi #11 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights dunks the ball in the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on February 06, 2024 in College Park, Maryland. (
Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)It's been a stellar 2023-24 campaign for Rutgers senior Clifford Omoryui, who is getting national recognition after he was named to the 2024 Naismith Women's and Men's Defensive Player of the Year Watch List presented by AXIA Time earlier this week.
According to a press release issued by Rutgers, Omoruyi is fourth in the nation in blocked shots with 66 blocks on the season, averaging out to three per game. Rutgers is 36th in the nation allowing just 65.4 points per game. They are also holding opponents to just 39.8 percent from the field this year. Omoruyi is a big reason for the success of Rutgers defense.
Moreover, Omoruyi was named to the Big Ten Conference's All-Defensive Team last season for the first time in his career alongside Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Caleb McConnell.The National Defensive Player of the Year will be named on April 7. The full watch list include:
| Adrian "Ace" Baldwin Jr. | Senior | G | Penn State |
| Reece Beekman | Senior | G | Virginia |
| Adem Bona | Sophomore | F/C | UCLA |
| Johni Broome | Junior | F/C | Auburn |
| Devin Carter | Junior | G | Providence |
| Ryan Dunn | Sophomore | G | Virginia |
| Zach Edey | Senior | C | Purdue |
| Dajuan Harris Jr. | Junior | G | Kansas |
| Jaelen House | Grad Student | G | New Mexico |
| Ryan Kalkbrenner | Senior | C | Creighton |
| Tamin Lipsey | Sophomore | G | Iowa State |
| Kevin McCullar Jr. | Senior | G | Kansas |
| Clifford Omoruyi | Senior | C | Rutgers |
| Jamal Shead | Senior | G | Houston |
| Zakai Zeigler | Junior | G | Tennessee |
UP NEXT:
Rutgers returns to action on Saturday against #11 Wisconsin at Jersey Mike's Arena in what figures to be a huge match-up for the Scarlet Knights who are looking for their third straight victory. Tip-off is at noon from Jersey Mike's Arena. We will have live coverage on Fox Sports Radio New Jersey.
