CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Oregon State guard Gary Payton II was named Pac-12 defensive player of the year Monday.
Payton II, who also was selected first team all-Pac-12 in a vote of conference coaches, led the league in steals (3.07 per game) and ranks second nationally.
A 6-foot-3 junior from Las Vegas, Payton II is the third OSU player to be named Pac-12 defensive player of the year, joining his dad, Gary Payton (1987), and Seth Tarver (2010).
"It's just all the hard work I put in the last couple years getting here," Payton II said after Monday's practice. "Mostly it's my teammates. Without them I couldn't be in position to get steals. It's more of a team award."
His 92 steals this season is the second most in school history – Gary Payton had 100 in the 1989-90 season – and ranks fifth in Pac-12 history.
Tap for mobile: Photos, dads watch Payton II, Kemp Jr.
The Beavers (17-13, 8-10 Pac-12), who are the No. 7 seed in the Pac-12 tournament, play No. 10 seed Colorado (14-16, 7-11) in a first-round matchup Wednesday at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:10 p.m.
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The OSU-Colorado winner moves on to the quarterfinals to play No. 2 seed Oregon (23-8, 13-5) at 6:10 p.m. Thursday in the quarterfinals.
Payton II was joined on the all-Pac-12 first team by Oregon senior guard Joseph Young (19.8 points per game), who leads the conference in scoring and was named Pac-12 player of the year.
Oregon's Dana Altman was selected Pac-12 coach of the year. Altman has led the Ducks to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances and Oregon is a lock to be part of March Madness again this year.
A transfer from Salt Lake Community College in Salt Lake City, Utah, Payton II is averaging 13.2 points, 7.5 rebounds (third in Pac-12), and 1.2 blocks (seventh). He set a school record with seven blocked shots against Colorado on Feb. 21 in a 72-58 victory.
Payton II has recorded at least one steal in all 30 games, the second-longest streak in school history behind his dad's mark of 37.
ghorowitz@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6726 or Twitter.com/ghorowitz
