Basden Named CollegeInsider.com National Defensive Player of the Year

Eddie Basden

A two-time Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, Charlotte's Eddie Basden is also CollegeInsider.com’s top defender in the nation for the 2004-05 season.

The 6-foot-5 senior holds the C-USA record for career steals with 264 and his 93 thefts this season are the third most in league history. Basden also led the 49ers in rebounds with 8.4 rpg. Basden's 264 career steals are also a new Charlotte record as are his 93 thefts this season.

“If there was a better defender in college basketball this season, I’d like to see him,” said CollegeInsider.com’s Matt Drake. “He was such a disruptive force on the floor.”

Basden, who finished fifth in the nation in steals per game, also holds a share of the 49ers single-game steals record, with seven in a game twice in his career.

Basden was named the National Defensive Player of the Year by ESPN College Basketball Analyst Jay Bilas.