List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season blocks leaders

Last updated

David Robinson recorded 207 blocks in 1985-86, the most for a single season in NCAA history. David Robinson (Team USA).jpg
David Robinson recorded 207 blocks in 1985–86, the most for a single season in NCAA history.

In basketball, a block (short for blocked shot) occurs when a defender deflects or stops a field goal attempt without committing a foul. [1] The National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division I block title is awarded to the player with the highest blocks per game average in a given season. The block title was first recognized in the 1985–86 season when statistics on blocks were first compiled by the NCAA. [2]

Contents

David Robinson of Navy holds the all-time NCAA Division I record single-season total blocks record (207) which was set during 1985–86, coincidentally the first season that the NCAA kept track of blocked shots. [2] [3] Although Robinson holds the single-season record, it is Jarvis Varnado of Mississippi State who claims the all-time career blocked shots record (564). [4] The highest single-season blocks per game (bpg) record is held by Northeastern's Shawn James, who averaged 6.53 blocks in 2005–06. [5]

Five players have been two-time NCAA bpg leaders: David Robinson (1986, 1987), Keith Closs (1995, 1996), Tarvis Williams (1999, 2001), Jarvis Varnado (2008, 2009), and Jamarion Sharp (2022, 2023). Additionally, six freshmen have led Division I in blocks: Alonzo Mourning (1989), Shawn Bradley (1991), Keith Closs (1995), Hassan Whiteside (2010), Anthony Davis (2012), and Chris Obekpa (2013). Among all-time NCAA blocks leaders, only Robinson, Mourning, and Shaquille O'Neal are members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. [6]

Keith Closs, the blocks leader in 1995 and 1996, only played college basketball for two seasons. [7] He left the NCAA after only two years to pursue a career in professional basketball, thereby foregoing his final two seasons of eligibility under NCAA by-laws. Had he decided to stay at Central Connecticut, Closs could have potentially become the first player to lead Division I in blocks for not only three years, but possibly all four.

Nine players on this list were born outside the United States—Shawn Bradley in Germany (West Germany at the time of his birth), Adonal Foyle in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Wojciech Myrda in Poland, Deng Gai in what is now South Sudan (part of Sudan at the time of his birth), Chris Obekpa in Nigeria, Jordan Bachynski in Canada, Vashil Fernandez in Jamaica, Liam Thomas in Australia, and Ajdin Penava in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Key

Blocks leaders

Alonzo Mourning was the first freshman to win the shot blocking title. Alonzo Mourning.jpg
Alonzo Mourning was the first freshman to win the shot blocking title.
Adonal Foyle led the NCAA as a junior in 1997. Adonal Foyle.jpg
Adonal Foyle led the NCAA as a junior in 1997.
Jarvis Varnado led the NCAA in 2008 and 2009. Jarvis Varnado.jpg
Jarvis Varnado led the NCAA in 2008 and 2009.
Anthony Davis led the country in 2012 en route to national Defensive Player of the Year honors. Anthony Davis dunk.JPG
Anthony Davis led the country in 2012 en route to national Defensive Player of the Year honors.

All teams are listed with their current athletic brand names, which do not always reflect those used by a given program in a specific season.

SeasonPlayerPos.Cl.TeamGames
played		 Blocks BPGRef.
1985–86 David Robinson *CJr Navy 352075.91 [3]
1986–87 David Robinson * (2)CSr Navy 321444.50 [3]
1987–88 Rodney Blake CSr Saint Joseph's 291164.00 [8]
1988–89 Alonzo Mourning *CFr Georgetown 341694.97 [9]
1989–90 Kenny Green FSr Rhode Island 261244.77 [10]
1990–91 Shawn Bradley CFr BYU 341775.21 [11]
1991–92 Shaquille O'Neal *CJr LSU 301575.23 [12]
1992–93 Theo Ratliff C/FSo Wyoming 281244.43 [13]
1993–94 Grady Livingston CJr Howard 261154.42 [14]
1994–95 Keith Closs CFr Central Connecticut 261395.35 [15]
1995–96 Keith Closs (2)CSo Central Connecticut 281786.36 [15]
1996–97 Adonal Foyle CJr Colgate 281806.43 [16]
1997–98 Jerome James CSr Florida A&M 271254.63 [17]
1998–99 Tarvis Williams C/FSo Hampton 271355.00 [18]
1999–00 Ken Johnson CJr Ohio State 301615.37 [19]
2000–01 Tarvis Williams (2)C/FSr Hampton 321474.59 [18]
2001–02 Wojciech Myrda CSr Louisiana–Monroe 321725.38 [20]
2002–03 Emeka Okafor CSo Connecticut 331564.73 [21]
2003–04 Anwar Ferguson CSr Houston 271114.11 [22]
2004–05 Deng Gai FSr Fairfield 301655.50 [23]
2005–06 Shawn James FSo Northeastern 301966.53 [24]
2006–07 Mickell Gladness CJr Alabama A&M 301886.27 [25]
2007–08 Jarvis Varnado F/CSo Mississippi State 341574.62 [26]
2008–09 Jarvis Varnado (2)F/CJr Mississippi State 361704.72 [26]
2009–10 Hassan Whiteside F/CFr Marshall 341825.35 [27]
2010–11 William Mosley CJr Northwestern State 321564.88 [28]
2011–12 Anthony Davis CFr Kentucky 401864.65 [29]
2012–13 Chris Obekpa CFr St. John's 331334.03 [30]
2013–14 Jordan Bachynski CSr Arizona State 331334.03 [31]
2014–15 Jordan Mickey FSo LSU 311123.61 [32]
2015–16 Vashil Fernandez CSr Valparaiso 361193.31 [33]
2016–17 Liam Thomas CSr Nicholls 311304.19 [34]
2017–18 Ajdin Penava FJr Marshall 341343.94 [35]
2018–19 Brandon Gilbeck CSr Western Illinois 311063.42 [36]
2019–20 Osasumwen Osaghae FSr FIU 321193.71 [37]
2020–21 KC Ndefo FJr Saint Peter's 25913.64 [38]
2021–22 Jamarion Sharp ^CJr Western Kentucky 321484.62 [39]
2022–23 Jamarion Sharp ^ (2)CSr Western Kentucky 321314.09 [39]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Duncan</span> American former basketball player (born 1976)

Timothy Theodore Duncan is an American former professional basketball player. He spent his entire 19-year career with the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "the Big Fundamental", he is widely regarded as the greatest power forward of all time and one of the greatest players in NBA history, and was a central contributor to the franchise's success during the 2000s and 2010s. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020 and named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Block (basketball)</span> Defensive action preventing a score

In basketball, a block or blocked shot occurs when a defensive player legally deflects a field goal attempt from an offensive player to prevent a score. The defender is not allowed to make contact with the offensive player's hand or a foul is called. In order to be legal, the block must occur while the shot is traveling upward or at its apex. A deflected field goal that is made does not count as a blocked shot and simply counts as a successful field goal attempt for shooter plus the points awarded to the shooting team. For the shooter, a blocked shot is counted as a missed field goal attempt. Also, on a shooting foul, a blocked shot cannot be awarded or counted, even if the player who deflected the field goal attempt is different from the player who committed the foul. If the ball is heading downward when the defender hits it, it is ruled as goaltending and counts as a made basket. Goaltending is also called if the block is made after the ball bounces on the backboard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adonal Foyle</span> Vincentian-American former professional basketball player

Adonal David Foyle is a Vincentian-American former professional basketball center. He was selected by the Golden State Warriors with the eighth overall selection of the 1997 NBA draft. Foyle played ten seasons with the Warriors until the team bought out his contract on August 13, 2007. At the time, he had been Golden State's longest-tenured player. He then played two seasons with the Orlando Magic and part of the 2008–09 season with the Memphis Grizzlies, sat out the next season due to knee surgery, and retired. As of 2018, Foyle does Warriors post-game commentary for ABC 7 in San Francisco.

Keith Mitchell Closs Jr. is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach for the Santiago Basket Titanes of the Laliga de Campeones (LDC). He played at the center position.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Connecticut Blue Devils men's basketball</span>

The Central Connecticut Blue Devils men's basketball team is the men's basketball team that represent Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Connecticut, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Northeast Conference and are coached by Patrick Sellers. The team last played in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jarvis Varnado</span> American basketball player (born 1988)

Jarvis Lamar Varnado is an American professional basketball player for Piratas de La Guaira of the Venezuelan Basketball League. Varnado is known as a defensive specialist and is especially adept at shot blocking where he's aided by his large wingspan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeShawn Sims</span> American basketball player

DeShawn Adrian Sims Jr. is an American professional basketball player for Pistoia of the Serie A2 Basket. He has previously played for Sagesse and Champville of the Lebanese Basketball League, as well as teams in Greece, Korea, Israel and Puerto Rico after a career with the Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team. In high school, he became Associated Press Class A Player of the Year, a Jordan Brand All-American and a fourth team Parade All-American. At Michigan he became a second-team All-Big Ten Conference selection. He had signed a free-agent contract with the Boston Celtics for whom he played in the Orlando Summer League in addition to playing for the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Summer League. He became a 2011 D-League All-Star and NBA Development League Rookie of the Year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huskies of Honor</span> Award given by the University of Connecticut

Huskies of Honor is a recognition program sponsored by the University of Connecticut (UConn). Similar to a hall of fame, it honors the most significant figures in the history of the UConn Huskies—the university's athletic teams—especially the men's and women's basketball teams. The inaugural honorees, inducted in two separate ceremonies during the 2006–07 season, included thirteen men's basketball players, ten women's basketball players, and four head coaches, of whom two coaches—Jim Calhoun and Geno Auriemma—and two players—Ray Allen and Rebecca Lobo—are also enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Since that time, an additional nine women's basketball players, seven men's basketball players, five national championship teams, one women's basketball assistant coach, and one athletic director have been honored.

Wojciech Myrda was a Polish professional basketball player. At 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) tall, he played the center position. He was born in Poland but graduated from high school in the United States. Myrda attended Ouachita Parish High School in Monroe, Louisiana for his senior year in 1997–98.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Bachynski</span>

Jordan Bachynski is a Canadian former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Arizona State Sun Devils. As a senior in 2014, he was the leading shot blocker in NCAA Division I and was named the defensive player of the year in the Pac-12 Conference.

References

General
Specific
  1. ↑ "Basketball glossary". FIBA.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2010. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  2. 1 2 "2009–10 NCAA Men's Basketball Records" (PDF). 2009–10 NCAA Men's Basketball Media Guide. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 2009. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 "David Robinson". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  4. ↑ Gardner, Tim (February 25, 2010). "Mississippi State's Jarvis Varnado blocks his way into NCAA record books". USA Today . Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Shawn James Draft 2008 Profile". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. 2008. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  6. ↑ "David Robinson (enshrined 2009)". HoopHall.com. Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 7, 2009. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  7. ↑ "NBA Development League Player Profile: Keith Closs" (PDF). NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 17, 2009. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Saint Joseph's Athletics Hall of Fame". SJUHawks.com. Saint Joseph's University. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Alonzo Mourning". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  10. ↑ "10 To Be Enshrined in URI Athletic Hall of Fame". University of Rhode Island. September 7, 2000. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Shawn Bradley". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Shaquille O'Neal". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  13. ↑ "Theo Ratliff". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  14. ↑ "NCAA Men's Basketball Annual Leaders". HickokSports.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2010. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  15. 1 2 "Keith Closs profile". DeltaJammersPlay2Win.com. Archived from the original on May 24, 2010. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Adonal Foyle". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  17. ↑ "Jerome James". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  18. 1 2 "NBA Draft 2001 Prospect: Tarvis Williams". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  19. ↑ "Ken Johnson". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  20. ↑ "Wojciech Myrda stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  21. ↑ "Emeka Okafor". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  22. ↑ "Anwar Ferguson stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  23. ↑ "Deng Gai". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  24. ↑ "Shawn James stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  25. ↑ "Mickell Gladness stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  26. 1 2 "Jarvis Varnado stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  27. ↑ "Hassan Whiteside stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  28. ↑ "William Mosley stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved March 21, 2011.
  29. ↑ "Anthony Davis stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
  30. ↑ "Chris Obekpa stats". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  31. ↑ "Jordan Bachynski stats". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Jordan Mickey stats". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  33. ↑ "Vashil Fernandez stats". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  34. ↑ "Liam Thomas stats". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  35. ↑ "Ajdin Penava stats". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  36. ↑ "Brandon Gilbeck stats". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  37. ↑ "Osasumwen Osaghae stats". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  38. ↑ "KC Ndefo stats". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  39. 1 2 "Jamarion Sharp stats". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.