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St. John’s Zuby Ejiofor Named to Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List

The senior center has built his case through elite shot-blocking supported by strong defensive metrics.

Overview

  • Ejiofor is one of 25 players selected to the 2026 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watch list.
  • He leads St. John’s in scoring (15.4 ppg), rebounds (7.4), assists (3.3) and blocks (2.0), with 1.2 steals per game and a top-three Big East total in rejections.
  • He logged eight or more blocks in back-to-back games against Iona and Ole Miss, a first for a Big East player since 2012.
  • Among qualified Division I players, he ranks 43rd nationally in defensive box plus-minus, just ahead of teammate Dillon Mitchell.
  • St. John’s next game is at DePaul on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 8 p.m. ET, with streaming on Peacock.