Dakarai Allen Named MW Defensive Player of the Year
The senior guard was one of three SDSU basketball players who received honors from the leagues head coaches.
Allen grabs the top defensive honor for SDSU, which also nabbed the award in 2015 and 2016 when Skylar Spencer was the coaches’ choice. He is the seventh Aztec since the 2014 campaign to land on the MW all-defensive squad, following in the footsteps of Spencer, JJ O’Brien, Winston Shepard and Xavier Thames.
Allen often guarded the opposing team’s top offensive player and ultimately finished the conference campaign with a team-leading 24 steals (1.3 steals per game ranked tied for fourth in conference). The Sacramento native also had the second-most blocked shots on the team (14) and was fourth in rebounding (4.1) and defensive rebounds (46, tied).
Allen’s effort on the defensive side helped the Aztecs become the top defensive unit in the conference as they ranked first in scoring defense (63.2), field-goal percentage defense (.385) and blocked shots (4.8), while posting the second-best numbers in three-point field-goal percentage defense (.315) and steals (6.8).
In addition to his contributions on defense, Allen averaged 9.2 points and 1.3 assists, and shot 58.9 percent from the floor, including 64.7 percent on his two-point attempts.
As for Kell, he is now a two-time all-MW performer. The junior completed the conference campaign by averaging team-best figures in scoring (12.8), assists (2.8) and free-throw percentage (.714; min. 75 FTA). Kell also ranked second on the team in steals (19) and third in rebounding (5.3). The San Diego native scored in double figures 12 times and led the Aztecs in either points, rebounds and/or assists 15 times.
Hemsley is also a two-time honoree after averaging 11.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists, while dropping in 23 three-pointers. His scoring and assists averages, along with his three-point total ranked second on the team during conference action. He scored in double figures 10 times, and led the team in scoring six times and in assists on seven different occasions.
The Aztecs open Mountain West Championship action on Wednesday, March 8, against UNLV. The No. 6-No. 11 matchup will tip at 4 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas and will air on the Mountain West Network.
