Ranking the Top 25 Most Memorable Performances of the 2024-25 Men's CBB Season so Far
Now that the NFL season is officially over, we take you live to your regularly scheduled men's college basketball season, already in progress.
If you're just now paying attention to the action on the hardwood, welcome to the party! But you've missed quite a few impressive individual performances.
Before we dive in, two important notes regarding the ranking process:
- Opponent matters, and it matters a lot. That doesn't mean we are exclusively considering games played against AP Top 25 foes, but it helps.
- Did your team win? Though we fully appreciate there's only so much an individual player can control in this regard, a fantastic performance feels a bit 'all for naught' in defeat. One losing effort did make the cut, though.
Also, only one game on the list per player. We don't need this thing turning into the Cooper Flagg and Johni Broome show.
This is inherently a subjective ranking, but it basically boils down to: How unforgettable was the individual performance?
Nos. 25-21
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25. Treysen Eaglestaff vs. Alabama (Dec. 18)
40 points, 2 steals, 2 rebounds (97-90 L)
In one glorious "Wait, what's happening to Alabama?" Wednesday night in December, college hoops fans around the country learned about North Dakota's star player. Eaglestaff went off for a 40-burger in a game that was tied at 85-85 with less than two minutes remaining. Alabama did eventually win the game, but everyone is going to remember this name when the transfer portal starts doing its thing this offseason.
24. Rahsool Diggins vs. Fordham (Jan. 15)
46 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks (120-118 3OT W)
There have been some hideous triple overtime games this season (See: Clemson vs. Georgia Tech), but UMass at Fordham was just a good old-fashioned bucket-fest. It didn't matter that it was 7-11 vs. 8-10 in what might be a one-bid league; everyone was tuned into this one by overtime No. 3. Diggins was throwing up in the tunnel in the first half before what turned into a Michael Jordan flu game performance, with 18 points in the overtime periods alone.
23. Julian Reese vs. Illinois (Jan. 23)
27 points, 17 rebounds, 3 blocks (91-70 W)
With Tomislav Ivisic (mono) unavailable for Illinois' frontcourt, Maryland had a clear gameplan against the Illini: Let the big men eat. The Terps fed Reese and Derik Queen relentlessly, as they finished the game with more two-point attempts (35) than Illinois' entire team (33). Of that freshman/senior duo, though, it was the veteran who really balled out in a statement road win.
22. Lamar Washington vs. Washington State (Jan. 9)
40 points, 6 assists, 5 steals, 4 rebounds (95-94 OT W)
It's comical enough that someone named Washington was almost single-handedly responsible for the demise of Washington State, but it was something else for that someone to play for Pacific—a team which had lost 22 consecutive games played against West Coast Conference competition—in a road win over a former Pac-12 school. Welcome to the WCC, Wazzu. Here's your bubble-popping L.
21. Keyshawn Hall vs. Arizona State (Jan. 14)
40 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists (95-89 W)
Whatever Hall ate before this game, safe to assume it's his game day ritual now. He came out on fire, scoring nine points before the first media timeout and racking up 29 of UCF's first 41 points. Hall also went 10-for-10 from the charity stripe, four of those coming in the final 15 seconds to salt away a crucial road victory.
Nos. 20-16
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20. Jeremiah Fears vs. Michigan (Dec. 18)
30 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds (87-86 W)
This freshman lead guard was already having one heck of a game for the then-undefeated Sooners in the Jumpman Invitational, but it was the four-point play in the closing seconds that pushed this one over the hump. Down by three with 11 seconds remaining, Fears drilled a triple, got fouled by Roddy Gayle Jr., converted the free throw and won the game. And after what has been a rough run through the first half of the SEC schedule, that sequence just might be the difference between Oklahoma making and missing the NCAA tournament.
19. Chucky Hepburn vs. Indiana (Nov. 27)
16 points, 10 assists, 7 steals (89-61 W)
This wasn't even Hepburn's most impressive performance of the season. He went for 32 points literally the next day against West Virginia, and also scored 26 against each of Kentucky and North Carolina. But this one was memorable because of the result, unranked-and-awful-for-the-past-three-seasons Louisville straight up annihilating AP No. 14 Indiana in what was this season's first step toward Mike Woodson's forthcoming exit as coach of the Hoosiers.
18. John Tonje vs. Arizona (Nov. 15)
41 points, 6 rebounds (103-88 W)
This game was an eyesore. Sixty-three fouls. Eighty-seven free-throw attempts. But Tonje made the most of the elements, scoring more than half of his 41 points on free throws (21-for-22) as the Badgers delivered what was at the time a stunning upset of a Top 10 foe.
17. Kadary Richmond vs. Providence (Feb. 1)
24 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals (68-66 W)
With 10:05 remaining in regulation, Richmond had 22 points and St. John's was up by 19. But with five seconds remaining, Richmond still had 22 points and Providence had come all the way back to tie the game. When the Johnnies needed him most, though, Cardiac Kadary came through in the clutch, rising up for the game-winning, mid-range jumper.
16. RJ Luis vs. New Mexico (Nov. 17)
21 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 block (85-71 W)
Back-to-back Red Storm gems? Sure, why not? Luis has routinely been huge for St. John's, including in the recent wins over Marquette and Connecticut. This early game in the highly anticipated Pitino vs. Pitino showdown is where he really stuffed the stat sheet, setting what still are his season-high marks in both rebounds and assists.
Nos. 15-11
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15. Danny Wolf vs. USC (Jan. 4)
21 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 6 blocks, 2 steals (85-74 W)
The seven-footer who Dusty May pilfered from Yale has had more than a few ridiculous box score extravaganzas, 10 double-doubles on the season, several of those with plenty of assists and blocks, to boot. This was his magnum opus, though, with 21 points on 12 shots while completely shutting down USC's primary big man. (Josh Cohen finished with three points.) He led the Wolverines in all five categories on this night.
14. Donovan Dent vs. VCU (Dec. 18)
40 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists (78-71 W)
Dent made a huge leap from his freshman to sophomore season, and yet another one now as a junior. And VCU's relentless turnover-forcing defense? No problem for what is easily one of the brightest mid-majors stars in the game today. He did have three turnovers in the final eight minutes, but none of those resulted in Rams points. He made more field goals (14) than his teammates combined (13), either scoring or assisting on 49 of the Lobos' 78 points.
13. Caleb Love vs. Iowa State (Jan. 27)
22 points, 2 assists, 2 steals (86-75 OT W)
For 39 minutes and 59 seconds, this one was memorable for all the wrong reasons, Arizona fans up in arms over Love's permanent green light leading to yet another loss. But with one magical, 60-foot, overtime-forcing heave, that all changed. After starting 5-for-18 from the field and 1-for-10 from downtown, Love's buzzer-beating prayer was answered, followed by his delivering consecutive back-breaking triples in overtime. Just a casual 4-for-13 three-point shooting performance, right?
12. Dawson Garcia vs. Michigan (Jan. 16)
27 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks (84-81 OT W)
Not much has gone right for Minnesota over the past few seasons, but Garcia was the architect of a rare feel-great victory for the Golden Gophers. He darn near had a double-double in the second half alone, including hitting a pair of free throws at the end of regulation to send the game to overtime, where he drained the game-winning, buzzer-beating three-pointer.
11. Ryan Kalkbrenner vs. UTRGV (Nov. 6)
49 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 assists (99-86 W)
Against an undersized Vaqueros squad whose primary big man fouled out in just 13 minutes played, Creighton relentlessly fed its 7'1" star in the paint. Kalkbrenner shot 20-for-22 from the field (including making both of his three-point attempts) and 7-for-8 from the charity stripe in a game that was uncomfortably close for the Bluejays until the final minute. They actually needed nearly every one of his 49 points to avoid what would have been an embarrassing loss.
Nos. 10-6
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10. Hunter Dickinson vs. Michigan State (Nov. 12)
28 points, 12 rebounds, 3 steals (77-69 W)
Remember 10 days into the regular season when Dickinson was the favorite for NPOY? One game after going for 20 and 10 with three dimes in a win over North Carolina, he took over the Champions Classic with this performance against the Spartans, scoring Kansas' first eight points and getting all three of those steals before the first media timeout. (He also had 27 and 21 in the Champions Classic last year. Dude just loves this event.)
9. Malik Dia vs. Alabama (Jan. 14)
23 points, 19 rebounds, 2 blocks (74-64 W)
Ole Miss mostly won this game with its pressure defense, forcing 21 turnovers and holding the nation's highest-scoring team to 64 points in a 76-possession game. In fact, Dia was the Rebels' only starter who didn't tally at least three steals. But he more than made up for it with a colossal double-double. He had 12 points and six rebounds in the first half and was even more impactful after the intermission.
8. Dylan Harper vs. Notre Dame (Nov. 26)
36 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists (85-84 OT W)
Harper's most memorable moment thus far was probably the game-winner against Seton Hall in mid-December, but what a show he put on in the Players Era Festival. In addition to a 37-point performance in a loss to Alabama the following day, Harper carried the Scarlet Knights to victory over the Fighting Irish. Eight of his points and one of his assists came in the overtime period, including the game-winning free throw.
7. Ace Bailey vs. Northwestern (Jan. 29)
37 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks (79-72 W)
Symbolically one point better than Harper's gem against Notre Dame, Bailey didn't have his running mate by his side for this game. With Harper sidelined by an ankle injury, Bailey basically beat Northwestern by himself, scoring 24 of Rutgers' 43 first-half points, from which the Wildcats never recovered. And for all the talk early in the year about Bailey's lack of efficiency, he scored these 37 points on 20 shots and committed just one turnover.
6. Koby Brea vs. Florida (Jan. 4)
23 points, 7-for-9 three-point shooting (106-100 W)
It was the very first game of the wildly anticipated SEC schedule, and it delivered the goods. Florida's Alijah Martin and Walter Clayton combined for 59 points while all five Kentucky starters finished in double digits. But it was Brea's sharp-shooting off the bench that stole the show. He hit four triples in the first half, and then delivered three more in the span of four possessions midway through the second half.
Nos. 5-1
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5. Tre Johnson vs. Texas A&M (Jan. 25)
30 points, 4 assists, 2 blocks (70-69 W)
With 17 minutes remaining in regulation, Texas trailed Texas A&M 51-29. That's when Johnson ignited, scoring 24 the rest of the way as the Longhorns finished the game on a 41-18 run for a near-impossible come-from-behind victory. With Texas presently very much on the NCAA tournament bubble, the star freshman taking over that game could be their saving grace.
4. Braden Smith vs. Michigan (Jan. 24)
24 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds, 4 steals (91-64 W)
With season-high marks of 34 points against Toledo, 15 assists against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and six steals against Indiana, pick your poison from the game log of what is going to be a first-team All-American. This was Smith's only gem to come as part of the absolute destruction of a Top 25 foe, though.
3. Kam Jones vs. Purdue (Nov. 19)
17 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals (76-58 W)
After Hunter Dickinson's emergence as NPOY favorite but before Johni Broome and Cooper Flagg turned it into a two-horse race, it was this triple-double in Marquette's rout of Purdue that had everyone buzzing about Jones as the man to beat for the Wooden Award. That this gem came in a clear head-to-head win over Braden Smith only makes it that much more impressive and memorable.
2. Johni Broome vs. Iowa State (Nov. 25)
21 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals, 2 assists (83-81 W)
Broome has had so many great performances this season that it's hard to pick just one. So, could we just say the Maui Invitational? In those wins over Iowa State, North Carolina and Memphis, he went for 65 points, 45 rebounds, 13 assists, nine blocks and three steals. And it was because Broome delivered the steal, offensive rebound and game-winning putback in the closing seconds against Iowa State that Auburn was able to progress into the winner's half of that bracket.
1. Cooper Flagg vs. Notre Dame (Jan. 11)
42 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds (86-78 W)
As with Broome, this NPOY frontrunner has had quite a few unforgettable games. No debate here as to which one to pick, though, as Flagg's lone 30-pointer to date was a 42-point special in which he only attempted 14 shots (excluding misses in which he was fouled in the act of shooting) and tied a season-high with seven assists. And in what was a rare instance of an opponent actually scoring some points against the Blue Devils, they needed every bit of Flagg's Herculean performance.
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