Men's NCAA Tournament 2025: Ranking the Top 20 Players in the Sweet 16
Two rounds into March Madness, most of the biggest stars in college basketball have backed up their All-American billing.
Duke forward Cooper Flagg, Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. and Alabama guard Mark Sears have been excellent so far. The standouts have guided their respective teams into the Sweet 16 in the 2025 men's NCAA tournament.
But we've also watched some ascents, too.
Flagg's teammate, veteran guard Tyrese Proctor, has shredded two opponents from behind the three-point line. Sean Pedulla has guided Ole Miss to the second weekend for the first time in 24 years, and the list goes on.
The following order is subjective but uses a blend of a player's full-season performance with the beginning of the 2025 Big Dance.
20-16. Pedulla, Oweh, Saunders, Goldin, Knueppel
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20. Sean Pedulla, Ole Miss
A transfer from Virginia Tech, Pedulla leads Ole Miss with 15.2 points and 3.7 assists per game. He's been particularly impactful in the NCAA tourney, scoring 20 points in both victories over North Carolina and Iowa State. Pedulla added eight assists and four steals as the Rebels took out third-seeded ISU.
19. Otega Oweh, Kentucky
Oweh, who moved from Oklahoma to Kentucky last spring, opened the Big Dance in style. He racked up 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the Wildcats' rout of Troy. During the second round against Illinois, Oweh put up 15 points.
18. Richie Saunders, BYU
Saunders put together a breakout season, joining the starting lineup and soaring to become BYU's leading scorer. That impact has been evident lately with BYU-best totals of 16 points in the first-round win over VCU and 25 in the victory over Wisconsin.
17. Vladislav Goldin, Michigan
In his fifth college year, Goldin—who played a key role during Florida Atlantic's memorable run to the Final Four in 2023—is surging to the finish. He tallied 14 points and eight rebounds against UC San Diego and then shredded Texas A&M for 23 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks.
16. Kon Knueppel, Duke
One of the other freshman stars around Flagg-led Duke, Knueppel has continued thriving in a supporting role. After playing limited time in the blowout of Mount St. Mary's, he chipped in 12 points and three assists as Duke hammered Baylor.
15-11. Condon, Proctor, Richardson, Wolf, Zeigler
2 of 4
15. Alex Condon, Florida
Although the backcourt is the engine of top-seeded Florida, Condon's versatility is a major part of the team's success. The sophomore had 12 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks while UF overwhelmed Norfolk State in the opening round. Connecticut held him to five points, yet Condon still contributed seven rebounds and four assists.
14. Tyrese Proctor, Duke
Proctor is not the best player on his team, let alone the nation. But on the opening weekend, there weren't many better than the junior guard. He knocked down 6-of-8 threes with 19 points and five assists in the first round and 7-of-8 triples for 25 points to help Duke cruise into the Sweet 16.
13. Jase Richardson, Michigan State
Added to the starting lineup in February, the freshman has taken full advantage of his increased role. Richardson netted 16 points when MSU bounced Bryant and, despite struggling all game, still provided six critical points late in the triumph over New Mexico.
12. Danny Wolf, Michigan
Michigan's frontcourt is among the best in the nation, largely thanks to how well Goldin and Wolf complement each other. Goldin is a more traditional post, while Wolf is a versatile stretch forward. He's collected 23 points, 20 rebounds, six assists and five blocks in Michigan's two victories.
11. Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee
Passing and defense are the senior guard's main strengths, and Zeigler has showed that with 18 assists and five steals in the NCAA tourney so far. However, he's also buried a couple of threes in both games within his 27 total points. If that perimeter impact continues, Tennessee is truly a championship threat.
10-6. Love, Cryer, Toppin, Lanier, Queen
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10. Caleb Love, Arizona
The reality is that during the regular season, Love did not merit such a high ranking. He was frustratingly inconsistent—and inefficient—even while leading Arizona in points per game. The best version of Love appeared in the second round, though, as he torched Oregon for 29 points, nine rebounds and four assists. If he stays hot, the 'Cats have a great chance to challenge Duke.
9. L.J. Cryer, Houston
During the opening round, Cryer tallied 15 points and four assists as Houston rolled SIU Edwardsville. The fifth-year guard came up clutch against Gonzaga in the second round with his 30 points, including two vital free throws in the closing seconds.
8. JT Toppin, Texas Tech
UNC Wilmington focused on getting the ball out of Toppin's hands, so he settled into a supporting role and excelled. He snagged five offensive rebounds among his 11 total, ending with 12 points, three assists and two blocks. Drake could not contain the All-American forward at the rim in the second round. Toppin amassed 25 points, 12 rebounds and two more blocks.
7. Chaz Lanier, Tennessee
Entering the Big Dance, we knew the Vols relied heavily on Lanier's production. That's a heavy load to carry, yet he's shouldered that responsibility with 29 points opposite Wofford and 20 more against UCLA. Lanier drilled 10-of-18 long-range attempts in those wins, too.
6. Derik Queen, Maryland
Right now, the most memorable shot of the tourney belongs to Queen. Colorado State held a 71-70 edge with 3.7 seconds to play, but Queen banked in a running jumper as the buzzer sounded to send Maryland to its first Sweet 16 since 2016. He's totaled 29 points, 21 rebounds, four assists and four blocks so far.
5-1. Sears, Smith, Clayton, Broome and Flagg
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5. Mark Sears, Alabama
In the first round, 15th-seeded Robert Morris made it interesting to the finish. However, the best player on the court reinforced that label and carried the Crimson Tide with 22 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Sears then notched 12 points and three assists during the second-round win over St. Mary's.
4. Braden Smith, Purdue
Eight turnovers in the second round? Not awesome. Still, the All-American guard has registered 30 points, 11 assists and four steals in Purdue's pair of victories. Smith's level of effectiveness in pick-and-roll playmaking will be a critical factor in the Sweet 16 as the Boilers aim to upset top-seeded Houston.
3. Walter Clayton Jr., Florida
As the clock ticked below three minutes to play, UConn led 61-59. Florida found itself on the brink of being the first No. 1 seed eliminated from the Dance. Clayton would not let it happen. The senior quickly put up eight points and turned the Gators' deficit into a 70-64 lead. Clayton finished with 23, matching his scoring output from the opening round.
2. Johni Broome, Auburn
The bad news is Broome has misfired on all seven long-distance shots. The good news is he's continued being a force in the paint, gathering 24 points and 23 rebounds in wins against Alabama State and Creighton. Broome's looming clash with Goldin, Wolf and Michigan will be a showcase of frontcourt talent.
1. Cooper Flagg, Duke
Would an ankle injury in the ACC tournament be a lingering problem for Flagg? That was the unanswerable question as March Madness began, but I think we should put it to rest. The freshman had 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists in just 22 minutes during the rout of Mount St. Mary's and 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists in the victory over Baylor.
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