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Ranking the 68 best players in this year's NCAA tournament
Jeff Eisenberg
They hail from every corner of the globe, from Paris to Philadelphia, from the Bahamas to Berlin.
There are sons of everyday Joes and ex-NBA stars. There are guards who stand shy of 6 feet tall and centers who tower over them.. There are McDonald’s All-Americans who coaches have fawned over since middle school and late bloomers who were scarcely recruited at all.
Here’s a look at the 68 best college basketball players in this year’s NCAA tournament. Remember, the rankings are based not on NBA potential but on a player’s impact on this year’s college basketball season. Stats matter, but so does the level of competition a player faced and the amount of success his team enjoyed.
1. Deandre Ayton, F, Arizona" data-reactid="19" style="margin-bottom: 1em; color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">1. Deandre Ayton, F, Arizona
Sean Miller describes him as a “one-man wrecking crew.” Opposing Pac-12 coaches describe him as the best talent they’ve seen come through the league. Not only is Ayton a physical marvel who is averaging more than 20 points, the 7-foot-1 freshman is starting to assert himself on the glass and is averaging 16.3 rebounds his past six games.
2. Jalen Brunson, G, Villanova" data-reactid="21" style="margin-bottom: 1em; color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">2. Jalen Brunson, G, Villanova
There’s a reason Brunson has been a part of a high school state title team, a U-19 World Championship team and Villanova’s 2016 national title team. The All-American point guard consistently makes winning plays. Brunson doesn’t wow you with spectacular highlights, head-turning athleticism or jaw-dropping numbers, but he has a high basketball IQ, impeccable court vision and a knack for coming through in big spots.
3. Devonte Graham, G, Kansas" data-reactid="23" style="margin-bottom: 1em; color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">3. Devonte Graham, G, Kansas
The true measure of the first-team All-American’s worth this season is not his 17.6 points and 7.2 assists per game. It’s that Bill Self was so averse to considering what Kansas would look like without him that Graham logged the full 40 minutes in 10 straight games and only sat for a total of 19 minutes in Big 12 regular season and conference tournament play.
4. Marvin Bagley, F, Duke" data-reactid="25" style="margin-bottom: 1em; color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">4. Marvin Bagley, F, Duke
Bagley’s superpower is his second and third jump. He’s a 6-foot-11 human pogo stick in high tops.
The ACC player of the year averages nearly four offensive boards per game and is a big reason why Duke is college basketball’s premier offensive rebounding team.
5. Trae Young, G, Oklahoma" data-reactid="30" style="margin-bottom: 1em; color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">5. Trae Young, G, Oklahoma
A Big 12 assistant coach on what makes Oklahoma’s freshman phenom so tough to contain whenever he has the ball in his hands: “His shooting ability makes him quicker. You can back off of guys who are fast but can’t shoot, but you have to guard him 30 feet from the basket with your hands up every single time.”
6. Trevon Bluiett, F, Xavier" data-reactid="32" style="margin-bottom: 1em; color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">6. Trevon Bluiett, F, Xavier
There aren’t many shooters across the country who put more pressure on an opposing defense than Bluiett. Said a Big East assistant coach, “You can’t relax on him. You can’t mess up a ball screen. If he gets a couple layups or gets to the free throw line and sees the ball go through, the next thing you know he’s stringing off a three or four threes in a row.”
7. Mikal Bridges, G, Villanova" data-reactid="34" style="margin-bottom: 1em; color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">7. Mikal Bridges, G, Villanova
The key to Bridges’ monster junior season has been his increased proficiency as a catch-and-shoot weapon. Bridges can still guard multiple positions and attack the basket off the dribble, but now he’s also averaging 18 points per game and shooting 43.3 percent from behind the arc.
8. Keita Bates-Diop, F, Ohio State" data-reactid="36" style="margin-bottom: 1em; color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">8. Keita Bates-Diop, F, Ohio State
Bates-Diop’s ascent from unremarkable to invaluable is the biggest reason Ohio State emerged as an unexpected contender in the Big Ten. What sets the lanky forward apart is his high release and ability to consistently knock down tough shots.
9. Miles Bridges, F, Michigan State" data-reactid="38" style="margin-bottom: 1em; color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">9. Miles Bridges, F, Michigan State
While Bridges’ scoring output is nearly identical to last season, the way he has achieved it is not. He has had a tougher time getting to the rim being guarded mostly by small forwards this season than he did last year as an undersized power forward. According to hoop-math.com, 39.6 percent of Bridges’ shots last season were from behind the arc and 37.1 percent were at the rim. This season, 42.2 percent of his shots were 3-pointers and only 28.1 percent came at the rim.
10. Jevon Carter, G, West Virginia
He averages 17 points and 6.5 assists per game, yet that’s not why Carter is a first-team all-Big 12 performer. The two-time Big 12 defensive player of the year is known for his active hands, quick feet and ability to shutdown opposing scorers.
Ranking the 68 best players in this year's NCAA tournament
Jeff Eisenberg
They hail from every corner of the globe, from Paris to Philadelphia, from the Bahamas to Berlin.
There are sons of everyday Joes and ex-NBA stars. There are guards who stand shy of 6 feet tall and centers who tower over them.. There are McDonald’s All-Americans who coaches have fawned over since middle school and late bloomers who were scarcely recruited at all.
Here’s a look at the 68 best college basketball players in this year’s NCAA tournament. Remember, the rankings are based not on NBA potential but on a player’s impact on this year’s college basketball season. Stats matter, but so does the level of competition a player faced and the amount of success his team enjoyed.
1. Deandre Ayton, F, Arizona" data-reactid="19" style="margin-bottom: 1em; color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">1. Deandre Ayton, F, Arizona
Sean Miller describes him as a “one-man wrecking crew.” Opposing Pac-12 coaches describe him as the best talent they’ve seen come through the league. Not only is Ayton a physical marvel who is averaging more than 20 points, the 7-foot-1 freshman is starting to assert himself on the glass and is averaging 16.3 rebounds his past six games.
2. Jalen Brunson, G, Villanova" data-reactid="21" style="margin-bottom: 1em; color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">2. Jalen Brunson, G, Villanova
There’s a reason Brunson has been a part of a high school state title team, a U-19 World Championship team and Villanova’s 2016 national title team. The All-American point guard consistently makes winning plays. Brunson doesn’t wow you with spectacular highlights, head-turning athleticism or jaw-dropping numbers, but he has a high basketball IQ, impeccable court vision and a knack for coming through in big spots.
3. Devonte Graham, G, Kansas" data-reactid="23" style="margin-bottom: 1em; color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">3. Devonte Graham, G, Kansas
The true measure of the first-team All-American’s worth this season is not his 17.6 points and 7.2 assists per game. It’s that Bill Self was so averse to considering what Kansas would look like without him that Graham logged the full 40 minutes in 10 straight games and only sat for a total of 19 minutes in Big 12 regular season and conference tournament play.
4. Marvin Bagley, F, Duke" data-reactid="25" style="margin-bottom: 1em; color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">4. Marvin Bagley, F, Duke
Bagley’s superpower is his second and third jump. He’s a 6-foot-11 human pogo stick in high tops.
The ACC player of the year averages nearly four offensive boards per game and is a big reason why Duke is college basketball’s premier offensive rebounding team.
5. Trae Young, G, Oklahoma" data-reactid="30" style="margin-bottom: 1em; color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">5. Trae Young, G, Oklahoma
A Big 12 assistant coach on what makes Oklahoma’s freshman phenom so tough to contain whenever he has the ball in his hands: “His shooting ability makes him quicker. You can back off of guys who are fast but can’t shoot, but you have to guard him 30 feet from the basket with your hands up every single time.”
6. Trevon Bluiett, F, Xavier" data-reactid="32" style="margin-bottom: 1em; color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">6. Trevon Bluiett, F, Xavier
There aren’t many shooters across the country who put more pressure on an opposing defense than Bluiett. Said a Big East assistant coach, “You can’t relax on him. You can’t mess up a ball screen. If he gets a couple layups or gets to the free throw line and sees the ball go through, the next thing you know he’s stringing off a three or four threes in a row.”
7. Mikal Bridges, G, Villanova" data-reactid="34" style="margin-bottom: 1em; color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">7. Mikal Bridges, G, Villanova
The key to Bridges’ monster junior season has been his increased proficiency as a catch-and-shoot weapon. Bridges can still guard multiple positions and attack the basket off the dribble, but now he’s also averaging 18 points per game and shooting 43.3 percent from behind the arc.
8. Keita Bates-Diop, F, Ohio State" data-reactid="36" style="margin-bottom: 1em; color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">8. Keita Bates-Diop, F, Ohio State
Bates-Diop’s ascent from unremarkable to invaluable is the biggest reason Ohio State emerged as an unexpected contender in the Big Ten. What sets the lanky forward apart is his high release and ability to consistently knock down tough shots.
9. Miles Bridges, F, Michigan State" data-reactid="38" style="margin-bottom: 1em; color: rgb(38, 40, 42); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">9. Miles Bridges, F, Michigan State
While Bridges’ scoring output is nearly identical to last season, the way he has achieved it is not. He has had a tougher time getting to the rim being guarded mostly by small forwards this season than he did last year as an undersized power forward. According to hoop-math.com, 39.6 percent of Bridges’ shots last season were from behind the arc and 37.1 percent were at the rim. This season, 42.2 percent of his shots were 3-pointers and only 28.1 percent came at the rim.
10. Jevon Carter, G, West Virginia
He averages 17 points and 6.5 assists per game, yet that’s not why Carter is a first-team all-Big 12 performer. The two-time Big 12 defensive player of the year is known for his active hands, quick feet and ability to shutdown opposing scorers.
