2025 NCAA Tournament: Top 25 Players to Watch

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Players are the true authors of stories during the NCAA Tournament. The players create the opportunities for March Madness Cinderellas with incredible scoring performances or late-game shot-making.

As we approach the glorious first-round college basketball matchups starting Thursday, here are the top 25 most impactful players for the 2025-2026 NCAA Tournament. 

NCAA Tournament Most Important Players

1. Cooper Flagg, Duke

Owner of the most luxuriant skill set in our sport, Flagg’s box score is full of winning numbers. That diversity is what places Flagg atop our FTN list this March. Flagg can control the game in the paint and in the post. He can warp the floor by dragging a forward/center out to the three-point arc. Flagg can switch defensively on any position, defend in space on the perimeter, or wreck a game with a defensive rebound ending in a SportsCenter dunk. Flagg is a college basketball alchemist on both sides of the ball.

2. Johni Broome, Auburn

Even with Johni Broome being a coin flip choice for National POY, the public still undervalues his influence on winning basketball. Going back to his freshman days at Morehead State, Broome helped that squad into March Madness with his rebounding and rim protection. He is tough, gritty and still a bit salty after that first-round exit last season. Expect March success for Auburn led by their first-team All-America forward.

3. Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton

When your name is mentioned alongside Patrick Ewing within the college basketball landscape, you have achieved greatness. Creighton’s defensive anchor offers the widest rim protection canopy while posting a near 70% true shooting metric. Kalkbrenner is playing as efficiently as Cooper Flagg or Johni Broome on both sides of the ball. 

4. Kam Jones, Marquette

A true college basketball star, Jones is one of the few student-athletes who excelled at two different positions (shooting guard and now point guard) during his Big East career. Jones is a triple-double threat any time he takes the floor. The lefty will drill contested threes or just drive it into the teeth of a defense for a dropoff pass or artistic finish around the rim. The most complete guard in the sport will be dangerous in the tournament. 

5. Mark Sears, Alabama

After a sluggish start, Sears has Alabama firmly back within Final Four dialogues. He is fearless offensively and a deluxe floor spacer. Sears will attack the rim with oversized courage or distribute to rim-running Alabama forwards. He is the conductor of a team with the fastest pace of play in college basketball.

6. Braden Smith, Purdue

Championship game lead guards usually leave for the next level. Paired with one of the sharpest head coaches in the sport, Smith is unlocking All-American level play. When Smith scores 20 or more points, Purdue is 9-1. Please reference Purdue’s win over Alabama for further evidence.               

7. Thomas Haugh, Florida

Guards win in March, and Florida is full of dynamic, complimentary guard talent. Thomas Haugh is blossoming before our eyes for the Gators. His passing is elite, and Haugh’s rebounding initiates offensive opportunities for those other talented guards. His shooting also stretched the floor for Florida. 

8. Kadary Richmond, Saint John’s 

Richmond plays hard whether injured or healthy, otherwise known as “the right way.” He is constantly probing and feeling around for a different way of winning basketball games on both sides of the ball. Old school Big East fans respect Richmond’s career arc, which includes Syracuse with Jim Boeheim, an NIT championship with Shaheen Holloway and now Rick Pitino with the Red Storm.

9. Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State 

The guards garnered the headlines for the Cyclones, but when the Iowa State guards were out via sickness/injury, it was Jefferson initiating the Iowa State half-court offense. Jefferson is one of the nation’s best rebounders and a beast defensively. Playing at both Saint Mary’s and Iowa State provides an unruly mixture of defensive cultures. Jefferson’s adaptive basketball plasticity is invaluable. 

10. Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee

Single-school accolades are rare (Ryan Kalkbrenner, Kam Jones, Augustus Marciulionus) in the NIL/player movement era. Zeigler’s influence on Tennessee is massive. The Volunteers have won at least 25 games and grabbed at least one NCAA Tournament win in each of his four seasons. An argument could be made that Zeigler is too low on this list. 

11. Milos Uzan, Houston

Milos Uzan filled the massive void at point guard after Jamal Shead and Marcus Sasser left for the NBA. Uzan recalibrated Houston’s backcourt with increased defensive length, the usual hoop IQ, high-pressure shot making and overall toughness. 

12. Jace Richardson, Michigan State

Freshman Jace Richardson started the season playing mistake-free basketball off the bench for Michigan State. Richardson is starring for the Spartans, rebounding the ball at an elite level, scoring it efficiently and disrupting on the defensive end. Jace just might be that breakout player this March. 

13. JT Toppin, Texas Tech

JT Toppin’s game, impact on winning and overall improvement have the Red Raiders dreaming of playing in April. Toppin operates with keen spatial memory in the paint, ending defensive possessions while providing additional offensive opportunities with elite rebounding ability. 

14. Derik Queen, Maryland

March is often influenced by styles of play, styles of coaching or even player styles. Queen plays at his own pace, with his own style and has nestled himself within NBA draft ecosystems with a mature vision of the entire floor. Queen is the hub for the Terrapins offense with his unique cross section of craft, skill and shot allocation. 

15. Danny Wolf, Michigan 

Danny Wolf possesses the most flexible skill repertoire in college basketball. Wolf has benefitted from head coach Dusty May’s natural evolutionary advantage of player development. He brings a stepback three-point shot, elite passing ability and great camaraderie with 7-foot teammate Vlad Goldin. While guards win in March, Wolf might be the largest “guard” who wins in this tournament.

16. Augustas Marciulionus, Saint Mary’s

His omission from the 2025 Bob Cousy Award is laughable. Marciulionus is playing as well as any guard in the sport. This horizontal creator ricochets with cohesion and craft. The Gaels will be focused after last season’s first-round exit.

17. Lamont Butler, Kentucky

Lamont Butler is the king of big-shot makers. He also denies the opposing dynamic guards on defense for the Wildcats. Butler owns a valuable, detailed March memory on both sides of the ball. His health holds much of Kentucky’s 2025 postseason potential. 

18. Terrence Edwards, Louisville 

Pairing with his upset partner from Wisconsin (Chucky Hepburn) for the Cardinals, Edwards has found his footing inside the ACC during the second half of the season. A legit threat for a triple double any time he steps on the floor, Edwards game is a layered entanglement of fakes, pivots, unorthodox push shots and selflessness. The multilayered wing cares about winning, not numbers. 

19. Anthony Robinson II, Missouri

Out from the ashes last season (0-18 in SEC play), the Tigers transformed into a sneaky Final Four sleeper this season. Missouri’s offense isa mosaic of shooting, pace and fierce cutting. Anthony Robinson II weaves these offensive characteristics into his role as the Tigers’ bellwether. Missouri is 12-1 when he scores double digits. 

20. Max Shulga, VCU

VCU might be undervalued this March, and Max Shulga is one of the principal reasons. Shulga rarely leaves the floor (33 mpg), and he holds a cascade of roles for the Rams. VCU is a staggering 16-1 when Shulga tallies four or more assists this season. 

21. Donovan Dent, New Mexico

One of the joys of Mountain West college basketball, Donovan Dent is a wizard with the ball in his hands, possessing elite lead-guard vision. Already the author of a 40-point performance against a stout VCU team earlier this season, Dent could treat us to a March encore performance.

22. Wade Taylor IV, Texas A&M

Every college basketball season houses magical moments for undersized, talented, tough lead guards. After two straight March invites, Wade Taylor and Texas A&M are primed for something special. Although Taylor’s efficiency metrics might seem lacking, he can flip outcomes with a singular play or deep three-point make from the logo. 

23. Ian Schieffelin, Clemson

Ian Schieffelin is impossible to fully account for on the court. Schieffelin rebounds at a high rate, scores it efficiently within the offense and shares the ball freely with fellow forward Viktor Lakhin. Schieffelin helps space the floor offensively (39% career 3pt mark) as well.

24. John Tonje, Wisconsin

One of the positive outcomes of transfer portal movement is player opportunity. Tonje transformed from a part-time starter to a legit All-American level player through his opportunity with the Badgers. Tonje led the Big Ten in the offensive box plus/minus metric while ranking inside the top-10 nationally (8.0). He is one of the finest shooters in college basketball this season.

25. PJ Haggerty, Memphis 

Memphis has struggled with consistency for many seasons, but PJ Haggerty changed that storyline for the Tigers. Memphis lived inside the top-25 rankings nearly all season, with Haggerty playing the primary role. He is an efficient scorer, pesky perimeter defender, minutes monster and game-outcome influencer. 

Honorable Mention

Ryan Nembhard, Gonzaga
Flory Bidunga, Kansas
Henri Veesaar, Arizona
Eric Dailey, UCLA
Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State
Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, UC San Diego
Zach Freemantle, Xavier
Egor Demin, BYU
Malik Dia, Mississippi
Bennett Stirtz, Drake
Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois
Nate Bittle, Oregon
Solo Ball, Connecticut