Drexel University Athletics
Amari Williams Repeats as CAA Defensive Player of the Year
3/2/2023 11:05:00 AM | Men's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA – Amari Williams was selected as the Colonial Athletic Association's Defensive Player of the Year by a vote of league coaches for the second-straight season. Williams became the first Drexel student-athlete to win the award in back-to-back years in two decades. He is just the fifth player in conference history to win consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards. Williams was also named to the CAA's First Team. In addition, freshman Justin Moore was named to the CAA All-Rookie Team.
Williams had another outstanding season for the Dragons. The junior from Nottingham, England leads the league and is currently tied for 11th in the nation in blocked shots with 2.36 per game. He is now tied for eighth all-time at Drexel with 128 blocked shots. Williams averaged 13.6 points per game and was third in the league with 8.8 rebounds for a team that led the CAA in scoring defense. Williams had nine double-doubles this year, including five in CAA games, and also had a team-best 38 steals.
Robert Battle, a recent inductee into the Drexel Athletics Hall of Fame, won the award in both 2002 and 2003. The other back-to-back award winners were Terry Tarpey of William & Mary, Kent Bazemore of Old Dominion, Larry Sanders of VCU and George Evans of George Mason.
Moore, a Philadelphia native, averaged 9.4 points and 3.1 assists in his first season with the team. He started in 22 games as a rookie before being injured late in the season. In CAA contests, Moore was second on the team with 11 points per game and led Drexel with 42 assists.
Drexel will begin play in the Colonial Athletic Association Championship on Saturday afternoon in Washington, D.C. The Dragons will be the fifth seed in the tournament and will play against either Monmouth or Hampton at 2:30 p.m. at the Entertainment and Sports Arena.
Williams had another outstanding season for the Dragons. The junior from Nottingham, England leads the league and is currently tied for 11th in the nation in blocked shots with 2.36 per game. He is now tied for eighth all-time at Drexel with 128 blocked shots. Williams averaged 13.6 points per game and was third in the league with 8.8 rebounds for a team that led the CAA in scoring defense. Williams had nine double-doubles this year, including five in CAA games, and also had a team-best 38 steals.
Robert Battle, a recent inductee into the Drexel Athletics Hall of Fame, won the award in both 2002 and 2003. The other back-to-back award winners were Terry Tarpey of William & Mary, Kent Bazemore of Old Dominion, Larry Sanders of VCU and George Evans of George Mason.
Moore, a Philadelphia native, averaged 9.4 points and 3.1 assists in his first season with the team. He started in 22 games as a rookie before being injured late in the season. In CAA contests, Moore was second on the team with 11 points per game and led Drexel with 42 assists.
Drexel will begin play in the Colonial Athletic Association Championship on Saturday afternoon in Washington, D.C. The Dragons will be the fifth seed in the tournament and will play against either Monmouth or Hampton at 2:30 p.m. at the Entertainment and Sports Arena.
Players Mentioned
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