Tennessee basketball’s Dalton Knecht is one of 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Player of the Year. The award is given annually to the top player in college basketball and while the Wooden Award is typically considered the top honor, the Naismith Player of the Year Award isn’t too far behind.
Knecht joins North Carolina’s R.J. Davis, Purdue’s Zach Edey, Houston’s Jamal Shead, Duke’s Kyle Filipowski, Dayton Daron Holmes, Maarquette’s Tyler Kolek, San Diego State’s Jaedon Ledee, Arizona’s Caleb Love and Connecticut’s Tristen Newton.
Knecht was the nation’s breakout star this season after transferring to Northern Colorado to Tennessee for his final year of collegiate eligibility.
The 6-foot-6 guard enters postseason play averaging 21.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. He was even better in SEC play where he earned SEC Player of the Year honors by averaging 25.5 points per game on 48% shooting from the field and 42% shooting from three-point range.
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Over the course of the season, Knecht totaled 40 points once, 35-plus points five times, 30-plus points six times and 25-plus points 10 times.
The Thornton, Colorado native has already landed one set of First Team All-American honors, SEC Player of the Year honors and will be a finalist for a number of national awards.
With Knecht in tow, Tennessee basketball won its second SEC Championship of Barnes’ tenure and the first outright SEC Regular Season Championship since 2008. The Vols went 14-4 in SEC play with losses at Mississippi State and Texas A&M and at home against South Carolina and Kentucky.
Knecht and Tennessee are looking to make more memories and earn more hardware as they open up postseason play on Friday afternoon against Mississippi State in the SEC Tournament.
