UND's Eli King named Summit League Defensive Player of the Year

King is the fourth player in program history to receive the honor.

Mar. 4, 2026 at 1:38am

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UND senior guard Eli King has been named the Summit League Defensive Player of the Year. King, a two-time member of the Summit League All-Defensive team, led the conference with 2.2 steals per game and had 71 total steals this season, which ranks eighth in Division I. He is the only Division I player in the country with more than 70 steals and 25 blocks this season.

Why it matters

King's defensive prowess has been a key factor in UND's revamped defense this season, which ranks 32nd in the nation in steals per game and has a turnover margin of 4.7, the sixth-best in the country. His individual accolade also highlights the strength of UND's program and their ability to develop elite defensive players.

The details

In addition to his defensive contributions, King has also seen an uptick in his offensive production this season, averaging 11.6 points per game compared to 8.3 last year. Redshirt freshman Greyson Uelmen was also recognized, being named to the Summit League All-Newcomer second team after leading the Hawks in scoring with 15.4 points per game, which ranks fifth in the conference.

  • King earned a season-high seven steals against Oral Roberts on Jan. 22.
  • Uelmen scored a career-high 30 points in a road game against Denver on Jan. 24.

The players

Eli King

A senior guard for the UND Fighting Hawks who was named the Summit League Defensive Player of the Year and is a two-time member of the Summit League All-Defensive team.

Greyson Uelmen

A redshirt freshman for the UND Fighting Hawks who was named to the Summit League All-Newcomer second team after leading the team in scoring with 15.4 points per game.

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What’s next

The UND Fighting Hawks earned the No. 3 seed in the Summit League tournament and will open against sixth-seeded Denver in the quarterfinals this Friday at 8:30 p.m.

The takeaway

Eli King's defensive prowess and leadership have been instrumental in UND's strong defensive performance this season, which has helped the team earn a top-3 seed in the Summit League tournament. The recognition of both King and Uelmen highlights the depth and talent of the UND program, which continues to develop elite players on both ends of the floor.