KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht has been named SEC Player of the Year, according to the University of Tennessee.
The announcement from the league office came on Monday following an impressive regular season from the Vols' star.
Zackai Zeigler also earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year. UT said both Zeigler and Knecht received First Team All-SEC plaudits. Jonas Aidoo was also able to earn the Second Team All-SEC distinction.
"I am thrilled for Dalton, Zakai and Jonas," head coach Rick Barnes said. "Each of them contributed significantly to our team winning the regular season championship in the best league in the country. All three are so deserving of these honors based off their excellent play throughout the year."
Knecht is the first Tennessee player to earn player of the year honors since Grant Williams did so back-to-back in the 2017-2018 season and 2018-2019 season.
Knecht finished the season with a 40-point game against Kentucky, marking a season-high. He became the first Vol to score 40 since Grant Williams did so in 2019. It marked his fourth 35-plus-point performance this season. He became the first Vol to have four in a single season in SEC play.
He led the league in scoring this season at 25.5 points per game in SEC play. It's the most points per game in SEC play by a player in the conference since South Carolina's Devan Downey put up 26.2 in 2009-10.