Syracuse’s William Kyle III Earns Spot on Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List
In a season where defense has taken center stage for Syracuse, senior big man William Kyle III is getting national recognition for anchoring the Orange on that end of the floor. The 6-foot-9 center has been named one of 25 nominees for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award, a nod to the impact he’s made protecting the paint in his final collegiate season.
Kyle has been a force around the rim all year, leading Syracuse with 57 blocks-more than four times as many as the next closest teammates, Sadiq White and Akir Souare, who have 13 apiece. That kind of shot-swatting dominance isn’t just impressive within the program; it’s made Kyle one of the most effective rim protectors in the ACC.
He currently leads the conference in total blocks per game at 2.7, and even in ACC-only matchups-where the intensity ratchets up and scouting reports tighten-he’s still averaging 1.8 swats per contest, good for fourth in the league.
Kyle’s inclusion on the watch list puts him in elite company. Among the other names are Duke’s Maliq Brown, who spent two seasons at Syracuse before transferring, and last year’s winner, Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner, who set the standard for defensive excellence in 2023-24. The list also features standout defenders from across the country, including Kansas sophomore Flory Bidunga, Michigan’s Aday Mara, and UConn’s Tarris Reed Jr.
The Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watch list will be narrowed down in the coming weeks-first to 15 players on February 26, then to 10 on March 20, and four finalists on March 27. The winner will be announced on April 5.
For Kyle, this nomination is more than just a personal accolade-it’s a testament to how central he’s been to Syracuse’s defensive identity this season. Whether he ends up hoisting the trophy or not, his presence in the paint has been nothing short of game-changing for the Orange.