Syracuse center William Kyle III was named to the watch list for the Naismith Men’s College Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday.

The senior is one of 25 players on the list and one of five from an Atlantic Coast Conference school.

This is the second such recognition for a Syracuse player this week. On Tuesday, freshman Uche Izoje was named to the women’s watch list. She also is one of five ACC players to be selected.

The Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award is given each year to the man and the woman voted the best defensively in the NCAA. The watch lists will be pared to 10 semifinalists in March, then to four finalists before the awards are announced in April.

The 6-foot-9 Kyle played two seasons at South Dakota State and one at UCLA before transferring to Syracuse for his senior campaign, and he is the anchor of the defense.

He leads the Orange in average rebounds (7.5), total rebounds (157), defensive rebounds (97), offensive rebounds (60) and blocks (57). His 23 steals rank second on the team to Naithan George’s 31.

His total blocks are tied for second in the nation, and his average of 2.7 per game ranks third.

Offensively, Kyle is averaging 9.5 points and shooting 66.9% in 21 games.

The 6-foot-3 Izoje came to Syracuse from Nigeria and has been key to the success of the Orange women, who enter their game against Georgia Tech on Thursday with a 16-4 record (6-3 ACC). She has been named the conference’s Rookie of the Week six times.

She is contributing at both ends of the floor.

Izoje’s average of 2.8 blocks per game is sixth in the nation, and her total blocks (56) rank sixth. She tops the ACC in both categories. She also averages 9.1 total rebounds and 3.9 offensive rebounds per game to lead the Orange.

Offensively, she leads Syracuse in scoring (14.5 points per game).

Flory Bidunga, Soph., Forward, Kansas

Cameron Boozer, Fr., Forward, Duke

Kylan Boswell, Sr., Guard, Illinois

Jaden Bradley, Sr., Guard, Arizona

Maliq Brown, Sr., Forward, Duke

Javontae Campbell, Sr., Guard, Bowling Green

Rueben Chinyelu, Jr., Center, Florida

Somto Cyril, Soph., Center, Georgia

Silas Demary Jr., Jr., Guard, UConn

Zuby Ejiofor, Sr., Forward, St. John's

Kyle Evans, Sr., Forward, UC Irvine

Zvonimir Ivisic, Jr., Center, Illinois

Joshua Jefferson, Sr., Forward, Iowa State

Jaquan Johnson, Soph., Guard, Bradley

Keba Keita, Sr., Forward, BYU

William Kyle III, Sr., Forward, Syracuse

Yaxel Lendeborg, Grad, Forward, Michigan

Tamin Lipsey, Sr., Guard, Iowa State

Aday Mara, Jr., Center, Michigan

Duke Miles, Grad, Guard, Vanderbilt

Tarris Reed Jr., Sr., Center, UConn

Tyler Tanner, Soph., Guard, Vanderbilt

Joseph Tugler, Jr., Forward, Houston

Ernest Udeh Jr., Sr.,  Center, Miami

Caleb Wilson, Fr., Forward, North Carolina

KK Arnold, Jr., Guard, UConn

Raegan Beers, Sr., Center, Oklahoma

Lauren Betts, Sr., Center, UCLA

Mikayla Blakes, Soph., Guard, Vanderbilt

Madison Booker, Jr., Forward, Texas

Kennedy Cambridge, Jr., Guard, Ohio State

Talaysia Cooper, Jr., Guard, Tennessee

Julia Dalan, Fr., Center, Portland

Jazzy Davidson, Fr., Guard, USC

Joyce Edwards, Soph., Forward, South Carolina

Toby Fournier, Soph., Forward, Duke

Madison Francis, Fr., Forward, Mississippi State

MiLaysia Fulwiley, Jr., Guard, LSU

Rori Harmon, Grad, Guard, Texas

Jordan Harrison, Sr., Guard, West Virginia

Hannah Hidalgo, Jr., Guard, Notre Dame

Uche Izoje, Fr., Center, Syracuse

Raven Johnson, Sr., Guard, South Carolina

Rashunda Jones,  Jr., Guard, Michigan State

Latasha Lattimore, Sr., Forward, Ole Miss

Indya Nivar, Sr., Guard, North Carolina

Khamil Pierre, Jr., Forward, NC State

Ny'Ceara Pryor, Sr., Guard, Texas A&M

Clara Strack, Jr., Center, Kentucky

Sarah Strong, Soph., Forward, UConn

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