LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky guard Lamont Butler paces the Wildcats at 1.8 steals per game and for those efforts, he was one of 15 players selected to the Naismith Men’s Defensive Player of the Year Watch List on Wednesday.

Butler was also named to the United States Basketball Writers Association’s Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List, and was a Sporting News Midseason Second Team All-America pick.

The Moreno Valley, California, native came to Kentucky already having a decorated collegiate career. Known for his defensive prowess, Butler has matched that performance for the Wildcats, leading the team in steals per game. A two-time Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, Butler is having the most well-rounded season of his collegiate career in all phases.

He is logging 12.9 points, 4.8 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game, while tallying a 2.3 assist-to-turnover ratio. The 6-foot-2 guard is also shooting career bests from the field (.513) and from 3-point range (.400). Prior to this season, Butler’s best per-game averages for his career were: 9.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Butler has charted eight games with multiple thefts, including a season-high four at Georgia. Offensively, he has scored in double figures in 11 games, including pouring in a career-high 33 points highlighted by a career-best six 3-pointers in the rivalry win over Louisville. Against the Cardinals, Butler was a perfect 10 for 10 from the field and earned Southeastern Conference Player of the Week honors, as well as USBWA National Player of the Week recognition. Prior to the game vs. Louisville, Butler had missed the previous two games with an ankle injury.

In the eight games Butler has played against teams either ranked for receiving votes, he is posting 12.9 points per game and connecting on 46.1% from the floor and 38.5% from distance. He is also chipping in 5.6 assists, 1.75 steals and 2.6 rebounds per game. In the six games against league foes thus far, Butler is tallying 13.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.2 steals per game. He’s connecting on 44.1% of his attempts and 36.8% from 3-point range. His 6.0 assists per game in SEC play ranks third in the conference.

Butler is one of six players from the SEC to earn recognition on the midseason defensive player of the year watch list. He is joined by Auburn’s Johni Broome, Tennessee’s Jahmai Mashack, Mississippi State’s Cameron Matthews, Alabama’s Clifford Omoruyi and Tennessee’s Zakai Zeigler.

The Wildcats return to action to take on South Carolina inside of Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. The game will be televised by ESPN2 and will tipoff at Noon ET.

For the latest on the Kentucky men’s basketball team, follow @KentuckyMBB on X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, and on the web at UKathletics.com.