Herb Jones Wins SEC Player and Defensive Player of the Year

The SEC announced it's end of year awards for men's basketball and Alabama senior forward Herb Jones was named the SEC player of the Year as well as the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. According to a press release, Jones become the first Crimson Tide player in program history, and the third in SEC history, to win the top honor in the conference for offensive and defensive play.

Jones was also named a first-team All-American and named to the All-Defensive team.

A native of Greensboro, Alabama from Hale County High School, Jones has been a major fixture in Alabama's 21-6 (16-2 SEC) 2020-21 record on both sides of the ball. Jones was the only member of the team to start all 27 games. He averaged 27.0 minutes per game and shot 45% from the field and from three-point land.

Jones leads the team in total rebounds (165), steals (46), assists (85) and blocks (27.) His 46 steals leads the SEC. He also leads the team in deflections (92) and floor dives (18.)

Jones is most often the recipient of coach Nate Oats's "Hard Hat" awards for his gritty and determined play. He's earned the award 14 times this season in 27 games. The next closest player earned three. The Hard Hat award is given on a Blue Collar Points system calculated by a player's ability to cause deflections, steals, blocks, rebounds, floor dives and charges during individual games. Jones earned a team-leading 541.5 Blue Collar Points, 164 points higher than the next closest player.

Jones is a finalist for both the Naismith Player of the Year and Naismith Defensive Player of the Year awards.