NEW HAVEN, Conn.  – Casey Simmons of Yale men's basketball has been named a finalist for the Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year award, Collegeinsider.com announced. The award is presented annually to the top defensive player in division I college basketball.
 
Simmons, who has consistently been tasked with guarding the opposing team's top scorers all season, has been a key anchor of a Yale defense that ranks third in the league. Simmons has started all 28 games this season and ranks fourth on the team with 109 total rebounds, second in blocks with 16, and third in steals with 19. In addition to his defensive impact, the senior has also contributed offensively as one of five Bulldogs averaging double figures, posting 10.3 points per game.
 
The Lefty Driesell award is named in honor of the legendary coach who spent over four decades as a head coach. Driesell won 786 games in 41 years at Davidson, Maryland, James Madison, and Georgia State. He ranks eighth on the NCAA career Division I coaches victories list and his teams at each stop were known for playing tenacious defense. From 1969-1986 at Maryland, his teams posted a 348-159 record, won two Atlantic Coast Conference regular season titles and one tournament title.
 
Driesell also led Davidson, Georgia State and James Madison to the NCAA tournament, making him one of three coaches to reach the NCAAs with four different programs. His teams won a total of 16 regular season championships and six tournament championships.
 
Charles "Lefty" Driesell passed away on Feb. 17, 2024. He was 92.

The recipient of the annual award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com.
 
The 2026 award will be announced in Indianapolis, IN, site of the men's Division I Basketball Championship.