This year’s NCAA Tournament is a showcase for future NBA stars, featuring a deep draft class across all years, not just freshmen.
While the spotlight is on the freshman phenoms—BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, and Duke’s Cameron Boozer leading the charge—plenty of non-freshmen are making their mark.
Sophomore and upperclass standouts to watch:
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Christian Anderson, Texas Tech: The 6’3” guard has surged in his sophomore year, averaging 18.9 points, 7.6 assists, and 3.4 three-pointers per game, ranking among the top in Division I.
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Thomas Haugh, Florida: The 6’9” junior forward is thriving with 17.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game, earning AP first-team All-SEC honors.
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Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan: The 23-year-old graduate transfer and Big Ten Player of the Year is averaging 14.6 points, 7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists.
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Patrick Ngongba II, Duke: The 6’11” sophomore is a versatile presence, contributing 10.7 points, 6 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in just 22.4 minutes per game.
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Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama: AP first-team All-SEC guard, scoring 21.7 points per game, shooting 40.2% from three, and adding 4.7 assists.
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Bennett Stirtz, Iowa: After moving from Division II, the 6’4” guard averages 20 points and 4.5 assists, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors.
This March Madness proves that while freshmen draw headlines, the tournament is packed with seasoned players ready to make their mark in the NBA.