SDSU MEN'S BASKETBALL: ALLEN NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Allen is third straight defensive player of the year for SDSU

Source: goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

March 7, 2017 (San Diego) - San Diego State senior guard Dakarai Allen has been named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year by the league’s head coaches, the conference announced today. Allen also landed on the all-defensive team, while Trey Kell was a third-team pick and Jeremy Hemsley was an honorable mention selection.

Allen grabs the top defensive honor for San Diego State, which also nabbed the award in 2015 and 2016 when Skylar Spencer was the coaches’ choice. He is also the seventh Aztec since the 2014 campaign to land on the MW all-defensive squad, following in the footsteps of players such as Spencer, JJ O’Brien, Winston Shepard and Xavier Thames.

The Sacramento, California native often guarded the opposing team’s top offensive player and ultimately finished the conference campaign with a team-leading 24 steals (1.3 spg ranked tied for fourth in conference). Allen also had the second-most blocked shots on the team (14) and was fourth in rebounding (4.1) and defensive rebounds (46, tied).

Allen’s effort on the defensive side helped the Aztecs become the top defensive unit in the conference as they ranked first in scoring defense (63.2), field-goal percentage defense (.385) and blocked shots (4.8), while posting the second-best numbers in three-point field-goal percentage defense (.315) and steals (6.8).

In addition to his contributions on defense, Allen averaged 9.2 points and 1.3 assists, and shot 58.9 percent from the floor, including 64.7 percent on his two-point attempts.

As for Kell, he is now a two-time all-MW performer as picked by the coaches. The junior completed the conference campaign by averaging team-best figures in scoring (12.8), assists (2.8) and free-throw percentage (.714; min. 75 FTA). Kell also ranked second on the team in steals (19) and third in rebounding (5.3). The San Diego native scored in double figures 12 times and led the Aztecs in either points, rebounds and/or assists 15 times.

Hemsley is also a two-time honoree after averaging 11.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists, while dropping in 23 three-pointers. His scoring and assists averages, along with his three-point total ranked second on the team during conference action. He scored in double figures 10 times, and led the team in scoring six times and in assists on seven different occasions.

The Aztecs open Mountain West Championship action on Wednesday, March 8, against UNLV. The No. 6-No. 11 matchup will tip at 4 p.m. PT from Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas and will air on the Mountain West Network.