ATHENS, Ga. – Georgia men’s basketball center Somto Cyril was named to the 2026 Naismith Men’s College Defensive Player of the Year Watch List, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced last week. He is one of 25 players nationally to be named to the list.

A native of Enugu, Nigeria, Cyril has emerged as one of the nation’s most dominant interior defenders. He currently leads the Southeastern Conference in blocks per game and ranks second nationally at 2.9 per contest. Through 22 games this season, Cyril has recorded 60 blocked shots, the eighth-highest single-season total in Georgia history.

Cyril joined Georgia’s top-10 single-season leaders in blocks during the Bulldogs’ road contest at Texas. His defensive impact has been highlighted by two career-high performances in SEC play, including six blocks against Auburn and an eight-block outing versus Arkansas.

He is averaging 9.6 points per game while leading the Bulldogs in rebounding (6.1 rpg), blocks (2.9 bpg) and field goal percentage (.765). His 56 dunks rank second nationally and lead all SEC players by a margin of 21.

Cyril’s rise has been steady since his freshman season. In 33 games last year, he swatted 51 shots, the 11th-most in a single season by a Bulldog and the second-highest total by a Georgia freshman. Over two seasons, Cyril has accumulated 111 career blocks, which ranks 12th on Georgia’s all-time list, just eight shy of the program’s top 10.