Danberry makes Naismith Defensive Player of Year Midseason Team

ATLANTA – In the midst of a stellar final season, Jordan Danberry was selected to the Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year 2020 Midseason Team by the Atlanta Tipoff Club on Thursday morning.

“Jordan is without a doubt playing some of the best basketball that I have seen in a long time,” MSU head coach Vic Schaefer said. “She is an all-around player on the court for us. On defense, she always defends everyone’s best guard, and she sets the tone for our entire team on that end of the floor. She is doing it all. She doesn’t rest or take plays off. She continues to improve every day. What she is able to do at both ends of the floor is what really sets her apart right now.”

This year, Danberry ranks 19th among Division I players in total steals (51) and is 29th in steals per game to pace a Mississippi State defense that is 17th in the country and second in the Southeastern Conference in turnovers forced per game (21.4). She has recorded multiple steals in 13 games this season, including seven contests

DANBERRY with four or more steals.

In State’s win at Marquette in November, the Conway, Arkansas, native posted a career-high seven steals as MSU forced 28 turnovers in the road victory. Danberry also added 20 points, four rebounds and four assists to pace the Bulldogs. She has recorded multiple steals in three SEC games so far, including four steals against Florida and Missouri.

On the offensive end, the graduate guard leads the team in scoring (14.3 points per game) and ranks second in assists (56). She has shot 50 percent or better from the field in 11 games this year and sits at fifth in the SEC in field goal percentage (.542).

Danberry was one of 15 players from across the nation to be selected for the midseason team and was one of only two SEC players to make the list. This marks her first midseason recognition. During the preseason, she was chosen to the Citizen Naismith Trophy watch list for the nation’s top player and was picked preseason first team ALL-SEC by league coaches.

Former All-american Teaira Mccowan won the inaugural Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2018 and was a finalist for the honor again last season, while Anriel Howard made the midseason team a year ago.