Austin Named Finalist for 2024-25 Lefty Driesell Award
3/12/2025 2:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
PITTSBURGH – Pitt redshirt senior Zack Austin has been named by CollegeInsider.com as a finalist for the 2024-25 Lefty Driesell Award, presented annually to the top defensive player in Division I college basketball.
Austin, an All-ACC Defensive Team selection, finished the season with an ACC-leading 51 blocks to go along with 36 steals. He averaged 9.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, while shooting 38.1 percent (56-of-147) from three-point range. Austin is currently the only player in the NCAA with 50 or more blocks and 50 or more threes on the season. He closes his career as the only player in NCAA history to record three seasons with over 50 three-point field goals and 50 blocks. Austin is also one of just three players in NCAA history to record at least 1,400 points, 700 rebounds, 200 threes, and 200 blocks in a career.
In two seasons at Pitt, Austin totaled 511 points, 286 rebounds, 84 three-pointers, 95 blocks, and 68 steals in 65 games (54 starts).
The Lefty Driesell award is named in honor of the legendary coach who spent over four decades as a head coach. Driesell won 786 games in 41 years at Davidson, Maryland, James Madison, and Georgia State. He ranks eighth on the NCAA career Division I coaches victories list and his teams at each stop were known for playing tenacious defense. From 1969-1986 at Maryland, his teams posted a 348-159 record, won two Atlantic Coast Conference regular season titles and one tournament title.
Driesell also led Davidson, Georgia State and James Madison to the NCAA tournament, making him one of three coaches to reach the NCAAs with four different programs. His teams won a total of 16 regular season championships and six tournament championships.
Charles "Lefty" Driesell passed away on Feb. 17, 2024. He was 92.
The recipient of the annual award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com.
The 2025 award will be announced in San Antonio, TX, site of the men's Division I Basketball Championship.
LEFTY DRIESELL AWARD FINALISTS
|
Jadin Akins |
6-4 |
Sr. |
Michigan State |
|
6-7 |
Sr. |
Pitt |
|
|
Ace Baldwin Jr. |
6-1 |
Sr. |
Penn State |
|
TJ Bamba |
6-5 |
Sr. |
Oregon |
|
Luke Bamgboye |
6-10 |
Fr. |
VCU |
|
Jared Billups |
6-4 |
Sr. |
George Mason |
|
Johni Broome |
6-10 |
Sr. |
Auburn |
|
Alex Condon |
6-11 |
So. |
Florida |
|
LJ Cryer |
6-1 |
Sr. |
Houston |
|
Cooper Flagg |
6-9 |
Fr. |
Duke |
|
Hayden Gray |
6-4 |
Sr. |
UC San Diego |
|
Magoon Gwath |
7-0 |
Fr. |
San Diego State |
|
Chucky Hepburn |
6-2 |
Sr. |
Louisville |
|
Sion James |
6-6 |
Sr. |
Duke |
|
Kobe Johnson |
6-6 |
Sr. |
UCLA |
|
Denver Jones |
6-4 |
Sr. |
Auburn |
|
Ryan Kalkbrenner |
7-1 |
Sr. |
Creighton |
|
Tamin Lipsey |
6-1 |
Jr. |
Iowa State |
|
Jahmai Mashack |
6-4 |
Sr. |
Tennessee |
|
Bez Mbeng |
6-4 |
Sr. |
Yale |
|
Stevie Mitchell |
6-3 |
Sr. |
Marquette |
|
Micah Peavy |
6-8 |
Sr. |
Georgetown |
|
Kadary Richmond |
6-6 |
Sr. |
St. John's |
|
J'Wan Roberts |
6-8 |
Sr. |
Houston |
|
Mitchell Saxen |
6-10 |
Sr. |
Saint Mary's |
|
Devion Smith |
6-0 |
Sr. |
St. John's |
|
Joseph Tugler |
6-8 |
So. |
Houston |
|
Amari Williams |
7-0 |
Sr. |
Kentucky |
|
Malcolm Wilson |
7-0 |
Sr. |
Queens |
|
Zakai Zeigler |
5-9 |
Sr. |
Tennessee |
PREVIOUS AWARD WINNERS
Boo Buie, Northwestern (2024); Caleb McConnell, Rutgers (2023); KC Ndefo, Saint Peter's (2022); Davion Mitchell: Baylor (2021); Juvaris Hayes, Merrimack (2020); Matisse Thybulle, Washington (2019); Jevon Carter, West Virginia (2018);Jevon Carter, West Virginia (2017): Vashil Fernandez, Valparaiso (2016); Darion Atkins, Virginia (2015); Elfrid Payton, UL-Lafayette (2014); Tommy Brenton, Stony Brook (2013); Anthony Davis, Kentucky (2012); Kent Bazemore, Old Dominion (2011); Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State (2010).
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