NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Bez Mbeng of the Yale men's basketball team is the recipient of the 2025 William Neely Mallory Award, the most prestigious athletic award given to a senior male at Yale.
 
The Mallory Award is presented to the senior man who on the field of play and in life at Yale best represents the highest ideals of American sportsmanship and Yale tradition.
 
The award was conferred on Sunday, May 18, as part of Class Day, a Yale College celebration and tradition that dates to the 19th century.
 
Mbeng wrapped up a remarkable collegiate career with 1,189 points, 449 assists, and 195 steals, finishing as the program's all-time leader in career steals. A dynamic presence on both ends of the floor, he joined Yale's 1,000-point club on January 25 against Harvard and scored in double figures in 23 games during his final season.
 
In 2024-25, he was named both the Ivy League Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, an exceptional double honor that reflected his all-around dominance. He also earned First Team All-Ivy recognition and was tabbed to the NABC Mid-Atlantic All-District Team. Nationally, he led all players with three triple-doubles and was one of just six active players to record multiple career triple-doubles. His 5.8 assists per game ranked 26th in the nation.
 
He competed at the prestigious Portsmouth Invitational Tournament and was a finalist for both the Lou Henson Award, given to the nation's top mid-major player, and the Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year Award. He also earned Ivy League All-Tournament honors and was named to the 2024–25 Lou Henson Award Early Season Watch List.
 
This final campaign capped a three-year run of defensive dominance. He was previously named Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year in both 2024 and 2023, earning Second Team All-Ivy honors in 2024 and Honorable Mention recognition in 2023. He was also a two-time finalist for the Lefty Driesell Award and received NABC District 13 second team honors in 2024.
 
"Bez is simply a winner. He is the fiercest and most dominating defensive player that I've ever coached. He made up for his teammate's mistakes on the defensive end and always gave them credit for any success. I can't imagine a more deserving or better teammate, I wish I could find a Bez Mbeng in each class we recruit," said James Jones, Joel E. Smilow '54 Head Coach of Men's Basketball.
 
Mbeng of Potomac, Md., will graduate with a political science degree. He is a member of Pauli Murray College.