Ranking the 25 Best Players in the 2015 NCAA Tournament
What if you could pick an all-star team to compete in the NCAA tournament? Forget who performed the best during the regular season or who has the most career points or victories or conference title rings.
The criteria is much simpler: You select the five players who give you the best chance of winning an NCAA title—a fantasy draft, if you will.
Surely there are college basketball fans engaging in something similar as the hours tick away to the beginning of the postseason. For those who need a little help, here are my rankings for the 25 best players in the NCAA tournament, regardless of age or position.
25. Georges Niang, Iowa State
1 of 25
Numbers of Note: 15.5 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 3.5 APG
Why He's Here: Niang has been on fire as of late, averaging 19.2 points in his last five games for a Cyclones squad that is full of momentum after winning the Big 12 tournament. A junior, Niang enters the tournament with 1,499 career points. He's averaged at least 25 minutes per game in each of his three seasons.
What to Expect: The 6'8", 230-pound Niang is a difficult matchup because of his ability to step away from the paint and score from the perimeter. He's an adept ball-handler who can slash to the rim on one play and bury a three the next. Niang suffered a season-ending foot injury in the round of 64 last season, so he'll be extra motivated this time around.
24. Kevin Pangos, Gonzaga
2 of 25
Numbers of Note: 11.5 PPG, 5.0 APG, 44.4 3PT%
Why He's Here: The definition of a battle-tested veteran, Pangos has averaged more than 31 minutes per game in each of his four seasons at Gonzaga. This year he's shooting a career-high 46 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three-point range for one of the top offensive teams in America.
What to Expect: Pangos has been on some incredible teams at Gonzaga, but none of them have advanced past the first weekend of the NCAA tournament—it's no stretch to say he'll be among the most motivated players in the field. Because he plays alongside so many offensive standouts, Pangos doesn't have to score a ton for the Zags to be successful. The numbers bear that out; he's averaging a career low in scoring but a career high in assists.
23. Melo Trimble, Maryland
3 of 25
Numbers of Note: 16.3 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.1 APG, 40.0 3PT%
Why He's Here: It's a shame Trimble hasn't received more attention for what has been a phenomenal freshman campaign. He may have saved coach Mark Turgeon's job by turning what appeared to be an NIT squad into the No. 8-ranked team in America.
What to Expect: Trimble and senior guard Dez Wells form one of the top backcourts in America. They combine to average 31.7 points and 5.9 assists. Trimble is turnover-prone (he averages 2.5 per game), but again, he has more than exceeded expectations—especially for a freshman.
22. Joseph Young, Oregon
4 of 25
Numbers of Note: 20.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.7 APG
Why He's Here: Most people assumed this would be a rebuilding year for a Ducks squad that lost nearly every key player from last year. Young had other ideas. One of the top pure scorers in the nation, Young's leadership—both on the court and off of it—help Oregon finish tied for second in the regular-season Pac-12 standings, and his clutch three-pointer with 1.1 seconds remaining propelled the Ducks to a 67-64 victory over Utah in the conference tournament semifinals.
What to Expect: Young is a gunner. He attempts 16.2 shots per game, including 7.1 from three-point range. Young is also one of the nation's top shooters from the foul stripe, connecting on 91.8 percent of his free throws.
21. Tyler Haws, Brigham Young
5 of 25
Numbers of Note: 21.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.3 APG
Why He's Here: Haws might be the best pure scorer in America. He ranks third in the country in scoring. He eclipsed the 20-point barrier 23 times this season and has scored 30 or more on four occasions. The senior is almost automatic from the foul stripe, where he connects on 87.6 percent of his free throws.
What to Expect: As good as he's been as a senior, Haws is actually shooting a career-low 35.5 percent from three-point range. In three games against Gonzaga—the best opponent on the Cougars' schedule—Haws was a combined 0-of-6 from beyond the arc and averaged just 14 points. It will be interesting to see how Haws performs against top-flight competition in the NCAA tournament.
20. Ron Baker, Wichita State
6 of 25
Numbers of Note: 15.0 PPG (team high), 4.5 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.3 SPG
Why He's Here: The former walk-on from the one-stoplight town of Scott City, Kansas, has blossomed into an NBA prospect with the Shockers. A 6'4" combo guard, Baker is 63-5 the last two years as a starter and played a key role on the 2012-13 squad that reached the Final Four.
What to Expect: At 222 pounds, Baker is a big, physical guard who can score through contact and mix it up in the paint when necessary. He shoots just under 40 percent from three-point range, which is even more impressive when you consider that more than half of his field-goal attempts (193-of-362) have come from beyond the arc.
19. Bobby Portis, Arkansas
7 of 25
Numbers of Note: 17.5 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 54.7 FG%
Why He's Here: In the SEC, Portis is often overshadowed by Kentucky standouts such as Karl-Anthony Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein. But he's been every bit as effective for the Razorbacks. Whether it's scoring or rebounding or blocking shots, there just isn't much that Portis can't do. The 6'11" Portis is a potential first-round NBA draft pick who was named SEC Player of the Year.
What to Expect: Portis is a bit unorthodox at times, especially when it comes to shooting. But that obviously hasn't limited his production on the offensive end. For Arkansas to advance, Portis has to do more than stand out on both ends of the court. He needs to make his presence felt in the huddle and in the locker room, too, to make sure his teammates are mentally focused during their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2008.
18. Fred VanVleet, Wichita State
8 of 25
Numbers of Note: 12.7 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 5.3 APG
Why He's Here: A junior point guard, VanVleet has been the face of the Shockers' program the past two seasons. You won't find a better ambassador for a school, or for college basketball, than VanVleet. He was one of 10 finalists for the Naismith Award—which is given annually to the nation's top player—after leading Wichita State to a 35-1 record last season. This year he's handled the increased spotlight with tremendous poise.
What to Expect: VanVleet is playing his best basketball of the season entering the tournament. He's averaging 16.4 points in his last eight games for a team that lost to Kentucky in the round of 32 last season. VanVleet missed a potential game-winning three-pointer as time expired in that game, which has no doubt been a driving force for the last 12 months.
17. Rico Gathers, Baylor
9 of 25
Numbers of Note: 11.7 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 17 double-doubles
Why He's Here: A basketball player trapped in a football player's body, Gathers sets the tone for a tough, gritty Bears squad with his physical play in the paint. The 6'8", 280-pounder ranks third in the nation in rebounds and is particularly effective on the offensive glass. Few players in college basketball boast Gathers' combination of size and athleticism.
What to Expect: Gathers isn't all that skilled offensively—although he does have a nice touch on his hook shot—and isn't much of a threat away from the basket. A lot of his points come on putbacks after offensive rebounds, and also at the foul stripe, where he's improved every year and now shoots a career-high 61.5 percent.
16. Buddy Hield, Oklahoma
10 of 25
Numbers of Note: 17.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG
Why He's Here: The Big 12 Player of the Year is regarded as one of the top shooting guards in the country. He's a difficult matchup on the wing at 6'4" and 209 pounds and is just as prone to slash through the lane as he is to pull up from the outside. Hield can also be a force on the glass, which is rare for a guard. He's grabbed 10 or more rebounds on four occasions.
What to Expect: Hield is one of the top scorers in America. And he's also one of the streakiest. The junior makes 37.1 percent of his three-pointers (he was 2-of-13 against Iowa State in the conference tourney) and is shooting a marginal 41.6 percent from the field overall. Oklahoma is a different team when Hield gets hot, though.
15. Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia
11 of 25
Numbers of Note: 13.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG
Why He's Here: Brogdon is the perfect wing in Tony Bennett's system: long (6'5"), athletic, a great defender and knockdown shooter. Don't believe anyone who says Virginia is not talented. Brogdon can score from inside and out and also shut down an opponent's best perimeter scorer.
What to Expect: With Justin Anderson not back to his normal self, Brogdon is the guy Virginia will lean on most to get buckets. Virginia has a pretty balanced attack, but he's the Cavalier most likely to go off on any given night—see his 25 points in the ACC semifinals loss to North Carolina.
14. Montrezl Harrell, Louisville
12 of 25
Numbers of Note: 15.7 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 1.2 BPG
Why He's Here: A projected first-round NBA draft pick, Harrell is one of college basketball's most imposing forces in the paint. The 6'8", 235-pound forward is the type of gritty, physical player that has come to define Louisville's program under Rick Pitino. His presence alone is enough to intimidate opponents.
What to Expect: Harrell is peaking at just the right time. He enters the NCAA tournament averaging 18.3 points and 10 rebounds in his last four games. He's a tremendous offensive rebounder who gets a lot of his points on stick-backs. Harrell has not fouled out of a game all season, which is huge for a squad that lacks quality depth in the paint.
13. Sam Dekker, Wisconsin
13 of 25
Numbers of Note: 13.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG
Why He's Here: The 6'9" Dekker is one of the most versatile players in the country, possessing the ability to score from beyond the arc, at mid-range and in the paint. He handles the ball like a guard and isn't afraid to do dirty work down low. Dekker is good enough to average 20 points a game, but he's a team-first player who shares the ball and takes joy in watching his teammates succeed.
What to Expect: Like the rest of his teammates, Dekker has used last season's national semifinal loss to Kentucky as a driving force in 2014-15. When he is playing well and being assertive on offense, the Badgers are even better than they were last season and, thus, more than capable of returning to the Final Four.
12. Delon Wright, Utah
14 of 25
Numbers of Note: 14.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 5.3 APG, 2.1 SPG, 1.0 BPG
Why He's Here: Widely considered one of the top point guards in college basketball, Wright is the key reason the upstart Utes have been a Top 25 mainstay throughout the season. He's expected to be a first-round selection—and maybe a lottery pick—in this summer's NBA draft.
What to Expect: Utah, which is making its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2009, will depend heavily on Wright to keep his teammates focused and not let them get overwhelmed by the hype and hoopla surrounding the Big Dance. If that happens, Utah is good enough to get to the Sweet 16 or beyond.
11. Justise Winslow, Duke
15 of 25
Numbers of Note: 12.3 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 2.0 APG, 39.6 3PT%
Why He's Here: Winslow didn't generate nearly as much buzz when he committed to Duke a week after highly touted teammates Jahlil Okafor and Tyus Jones. But he's been just as vital to Duke's success. Instead of an afterthought or "third wheel," Winslow—a potential lottery pick in this summer's NBA draft—is a key cog.
What to Expect: At 6'6" and 225 pounds, Winslow is one of the strongest, most physical small forwards in America. He prides himself on his defense, and offensively, he attacks the paint and is able to score through contact because of his size. Winslow has scored in double figures in 14 straight games and has five double-doubles during that span. Clearly, he's playing with a high level of confidence.
10. Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga
16 of 25
Numbers of Note: 16.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 46.6 3PT%
Why He's Here: Wiltjer's decision to transfer from Kentucky has paid off huge for Gonzaga. The 6'10" forward leads the Zags in scoring while shooting 53.6 percent from the field and 46.6 percent from three-point range. Even though he doesn't look all that different physically, Wiltjer greatly enhanced his strength and athleticism while sitting out last season under NCAA transfer rules.
What to Expect: Wiltjer, who made a small contribution to Kentucky's 2012 national championship squad, knows what it takes to win at the highest level and won't be overwhelmed by the NCAA tournament—or the big stage of the Final Four, if Gonzaga are able to make it that far. Wiltjer plays much looser at Gonzaga than he did with the Wildcats, mainly because he's allowed to play through his mistakes.
9. Seth Tuttle, Northern Iowa
17 of 25
Numbers of Note: 15.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 3.3 APG (all team highs)
Why He's Here: Tuttle is one of the most fundamentally sound big men in the country. He can score with his back to the basket, off the bounce or from the perimeter, but it's his ability to make plays for others that makes him a special player.
What to Expect: The Panthers have a touch of Danny Manning and the Miracles to them. Tuttle is the only guy on the team to average double figures, and he's a do-it-all big man. He's not at Manning's level—few players in the history of the college game are—but he's capable of carrying his team on a deep run.
8. Tyus Jones, Duke
18 of 25
Numbers of Note: 11.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.5 SPG
Why He's Here: As only a freshman, Jones has blossomed into one of the nation's top point guards. He teams with senior Quinn Cook to form arguably the top backcourt in America, and the chemistry he has with freshman classmates Jahlil Okafor and Justise Winslow has been vital to Duke's success. Jones seems to play his best in big games. He had 22 points in a win at Wisconsin and averaged 23 points in two wins against North Carolina.
What to Expect: Jones is known as a pass-first point guard, but he isn't afraid to take over a game when his teammates are struggling to score. That mentality has come in handy on nights when Okafor commands double- and triple-teams in the post. Jones is one of the more exciting point guards in the country.
7. Jerian Grant, Notre Dame
19 of 25
Numbers of Note: 16.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 6.6 APG, 1.7 SPG
Why He's Here: The Fighting Irish have been one of college basketball's biggest surprises thanks to Grant, who seems to be playing with a chip on his shoulder after missing the second half of last season for academic reasons. He's a big guard with a knack for scoring who is difficult to stop because of his size.
What to Expect: As good as Notre Dame has been in recent years under Mike Brey, the Fighting Irish haven't advanced to the Sweet 16 since 2003. This Notre Dame team has the ability to stop that trend—but only if Grant is at his best.
6. Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky
20 of 25
Numbers of Note: 9.3 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 58.8 FG%
Why He's Here: The Wildcats' 7-foot center had shown flashes of greatness as a freshman and sophomore, but this season he has played at an elite level almost every single game. Not many teams in America boast a post presence as intimidating as Cauley-Stein, who blocks 1.6 shots per game and alters countless others. Cauley-Stein also averages 1.3 steals per game. His performance this season has propelled him up NBA draft boards, and he's expected to be a top-10 pick this summer.
What to Expect: An ankle injury suffered in the Sweet 16 forced Cauley-Stein to miss the Elite Eight and Final Four last year. Watching his teammates lose to Connecticut in the NCAA title game was painful for Cauley-Stein, especially considering he could've done so much to help. Don't be surprised if he plays the best basketball of his career during this NCAA tournament, which will likely be the last time he appears in a Wildcats uniform.
5. Stanley Johnson, Arizona
21 of 25
Numbers of Note: 14.1 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.5 SPG
Why He's Here: The hype surrounding Johnson during the offseason was justified. The freshman small forward and sure-fire NBA lottery pick has become one of the top all-around players in college basketball while guiding Arizona to a Pac-12 regular-season title and a No. 2 seed in the West Region.
What to Expect: Johnson carries himself with a swagger that makes him seem cocky at times. While that may irk opposing fans and players, NBA scouts love the bravado. Confidence and ability to flourish under pressure are vital traits for players who want to become stars in March, and Johnson possesses both of them.
4. D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State
22 of 25
Numbers of Note: 19.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 5.1 APG, 1.6 SPG, 41.5 3PT%
Why He's Here: The Buckeyes may not be in the NCAA tournament if it wasn't for Russell, a freshman point guard who is projected as a top-five pick in this summer's NBA draft. At 6'5", 180 pounds, Russell is bigger and longer than almost every point guard he faces. And his uncanny court vision has produced a bevy of highlight-reel passes that have become instant hits on YouTube.
What to Expect: Ohio State has some nice pieces, but Russell is the clear-cut star. If he struggles to score or gets sloppy with the ball, his team will be in trouble. The Buckeyes feed off of Russell's success and energy.
3. Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky
23 of 25
Numbers of Note: 9.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.4 BPG
Why He's Here: Towns has been Kentucky's best player during the past month, scoring in double figures in five of his last eight games as his minutes have increased. Towns' most flattering trait is his versatility. He can muscle up for tough points in the paint or score over both shoulders. He's also got a nice touch from mid-range. Not to be overlooked is Towns' top-notch work on defense, ranking 35th in the nation in blocks.
What to Expect: Duke's Jahlil Okafor is regarded as the best big man in the country, but there are some scouts who believe that Towns may have a bigger upside. Don't be surprised if he's picked as high as No. 3 in this summer's NBA draft. In the meantime, he's the X-factor for Kentucky in the NCAA tournament. If he is playing at a high level, the Wildcats may be impossible to stop.
2. Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin
24 of 25
Numbers of Note: 18.2 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 1.6 BPG
Why He's Here: One season after leading the Badgers to the 2014 Final Four, Kaminsky has been even better in 2014-15. The potential NBA lottery pick is averaging career highs in points and rebounds while shooting 55.3 percent from the field. Kaminsky has scored in double figures in all but one game and has scored 20 points or more on 13 occasions. With Kaminsky leading the way, no one will be surprised if Wisconsin returns to the Final Four.
What to Expect: The 7'0" Kaminsky is one of the most difficult matchups in college basketball because of his wide array of post moves and his ability to score away from the paint. Kaminsky has an excellent mid-range jumper and shoots 39.5 percent from three-point range.
1. Jahlil Okafor, Duke
25 of 25
Numbers of Note: 17.7 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 1.4 BPG, 66.9 FG%
Why He's Here: There was a ton of hype surrounding Okafor entering the season—and all of it seems justified with the potential No. 1 overall NBA draft pick leading the Blue Devils in points, rebounds and blocks. Okafor has 11 double-doubles and has scored in double figures in all but one game this season.
What to Expect: Okafor's ability to flourish in the national spotlight at such a young age speaks volumes about his potential at the next level. No moment is too big for Okafor, no spotlight too bright. He often draws double- and triple-teams, which opens things up for his teammates. Okafor is a tremendous passer in those situations. The chemistry he shares with point guard Tyus Jones and small forward Justise Winslow, his former teammates with USA Basketball, has been huge for the Blue Devils.
Jason King covers college sports for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JasonKingBR.
