Colonel Named Finalist for Lefty Driesell Award
3/10/2026 12:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SFA big man among 25 DI players eyeing defensive POTY honors
BOSTON, Mass. - Stephen F. Austin senior center Jerald Colonel has been named one of 25 finalist for the famed Lefty Driesell Award, presented annually to the top defender in Division I college basketball. The official announcement was made by College Insider on Tuesday, March 10.
Colonel, the Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year and the headliner on the league's all-defensive team, is one of the top shot blockers in the country. The Savannah, Georgia native led the SLC in total blocks (76) and blocks per game (2.45) with both marks inside the top 10 nationally. His total blocks are currently second on the program's all-time single season blocked shots list. In terms of his NCAA career, Colonel ranks 30th among DI career active leaders in total blocks (143) and is third in blocks average (2.34) and 12th among all three levels of NCAA play.
Colonel recorded a block in 28 of 31 regular season games played, delivered multiple blocks in 22 games with three games of 5+ blocks and posted six-block games against Arkansas State (11/7) and UTRGV (12/3). In SLC play, Colonel tied for the league lead in blocks average (2.0), while his 44 blocks over 22 SLC games ranked second.
On the glass, Colonel ranks second in the SLC in total rebounding (232). He was one of five players to average 7.0+ rebounds and one of five players to grab 160+ rebounds in SLC play. Colonel produced 18 games with 8+ total rebounds including six double-figure rebounding efforts. He ranks fourth in the SLC in rebounding average (7.5) and seventh in defensive rebounding (4.39).
In the regular season, Colonel was one of 12 players in SLC play to average 4.2+ defensive rebounds in addition to grabbing 90+ total rebounds. Defensively, Colonel totaled 4+ defensive rebounds in a game 23 times, while his effort on the offensive glass resulted in him leading the league in offensive average (3.10) and offensive boards in SLC play (69). Additionally, Colonel scored 154 points with 42 assists and added 28 steals with eight multi-steal games.
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#AxeEm x #WinTogether
Colonel, the Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year and the headliner on the league's all-defensive team, is one of the top shot blockers in the country. The Savannah, Georgia native led the SLC in total blocks (76) and blocks per game (2.45) with both marks inside the top 10 nationally. His total blocks are currently second on the program's all-time single season blocked shots list. In terms of his NCAA career, Colonel ranks 30th among DI career active leaders in total blocks (143) and is third in blocks average (2.34) and 12th among all three levels of NCAA play.
Colonel recorded a block in 28 of 31 regular season games played, delivered multiple blocks in 22 games with three games of 5+ blocks and posted six-block games against Arkansas State (11/7) and UTRGV (12/3). In SLC play, Colonel tied for the league lead in blocks average (2.0), while his 44 blocks over 22 SLC games ranked second.
On the glass, Colonel ranks second in the SLC in total rebounding (232). He was one of five players to average 7.0+ rebounds and one of five players to grab 160+ rebounds in SLC play. Colonel produced 18 games with 8+ total rebounds including six double-figure rebounding efforts. He ranks fourth in the SLC in rebounding average (7.5) and seventh in defensive rebounding (4.39).
In the regular season, Colonel was one of 12 players in SLC play to average 4.2+ defensive rebounds in addition to grabbing 90+ total rebounds. Defensively, Colonel totaled 4+ defensive rebounds in a game 23 times, while his effort on the offensive glass resulted in him leading the league in offensive average (3.10) and offensive boards in SLC play (69). Additionally, Colonel scored 154 points with 42 assists and added 28 steals with eight multi-steal games.
?? to one of the nation's premier defenders! ??
— SFA Men's Basketball (@SFA_MBB) March 13, 2026
JC is one of 2??5?? finalists for the Lefty Driesell Award, given annually to DI basketball's top defensive player! #AxeEm x #WinTogether pic.twitter.com/YgZKzyRrVh
THE 'JACKS HAVE GONE MOBILE
SFA Athletics' newest mobile phone application is designed to bring Lumberjack fans closer to the action than ever before. Available now on both the App Store and Google Play, the new SFA Athletics app delivers schedules, scores, rosters, news, ticket access, and exclusive content right to your phone. Fans can also receive push notifications, so they never miss a moment of the action. Download now: Official SFA Athletics App.
FOLLOW THE LUMBERJACKS
For all the latest information on SFA men's basketball, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Lumberjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.
#AxeEm x #WinTogether
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