Bowling Green senior guard Javontae Campbell was named a finalist for the 2026 Lefty Driesell Award, CollegeInsider.com announced on March 10. The award is given each year to the top defensive player in Division I college basketball.
The recognition highlights Campbell’s strong defensive performance this season. He leads the nation in both total steals, with 96, and steals per game at 3.1. Campbell has already surpassed his own program record for single-season steals and is approaching the Mid-American Conference (MAC) record of 103 set by Ball State’s Bonzie Wells during the 1997-98 season.
In addition to his defensive achievements, Campbell also leads the MAC in points scored against conference opponents, averaging 21.4 per game. He ranks third in assists against MAC teams with an average of six per contest. Campbell is currently just 18 points away from entering Bowling Green State University’s top ten for single-season scoring and is already among the top ten for single-season assists. If he reaches both milestones, he would join Antonio Daniels’ 1996-97 campaign as one of only two players in program history to rank in the top ten for both categories in a single season.
The recipient of the Lefty Driesell Award will be determined by a committee made up of current and former head coaches along with two senior staff members from CollegeInsider.com. The winner will be announced in Indianapolis during the men’s Division I Basketball Championship.
Looking ahead, Bowling Green will begin its postseason schedule on Thursday, March 12, facing rival Toledo Rockets in the MAC Quarterfinals in Cleveland. The game is scheduled to start approximately at 1:30 p.m., following the conclusion of game one.
