Walker Kessler

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Records

Kessler's defensive awards in 2022 put him in rare company. He became just the second player in Auburn history to win the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award, joining a short list of elite college defenders. His 4.6 blocks per game that season led the nation and set a single-season school record. In the NBA, he made the All-Rookie First Team, a strong indicator of his future potential as a rim protector. These achievements underscore his unique ability to change games on the defensive end.

AwardsKessler's trophy case includes major college defensive honors: the Naismith Men's Defensive Player of the Year, NABC Division I Defensive Player of the Year, and SEC Defensive Player of the Year, all won in 2022. He also earned a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2023.

Honours & Distinctions

National Honor Society

Woodward Academy·2019

Inducted for academic excellence

AP All-America Third Team

Associated Press·2022

Recognized as one of the top college players

All-SEC First Team

Southeastern Conference·2022

Selected to the conference's top team

SEC All-Defensive Team

Southeastern Conference·2022

Honored for defensive excellence

Records & Feats

Auburn single-season blocks record

College Basketball·2022

Set the Auburn single-season record with 155 blocks in 2021-22, averaging 4.6 per game.

Second Auburn player to win Naismith Defensive Player of the Year

Awards·2022

Joined Charles Barkley as the only Auburn players to win the award, though Barkley's honor came in a different era and format.