Ranking the greatest players in NCAA men’s March Madness history, from Michael Jordan to Magic Johnson
Larry Bird, Jerry West and Carmelo Anthony first became famous in the NCAA Tournament. Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing and Jimmer Fredette created the beginnings of their basketball legacies in the madness of March. Michael Jordan first made his name in March MadnessGetty With the men’s tourney returning to finish off the 2024-25 basketball season, Duke’s Cooper Flagg is the latest big name in the college game. Auburn, Houston, Florida and Duke are the No. 1 seeds on the way to the Final Four in San Antonio, Texas. But it’s hard to imagine any player topping Kemba Walker’s magical run in 2010-11, which ended with Connecticut lifting a trophy. Here is talkSPORT’s list of the 10 greatest players in NCAA men’s tournament history. 10. Kemba Walker, Connecticut Walker averaged 23.5 points, started 41 games, and carried the Huskies to the peak of The Dance. It’s hard to be better than that in March. The future NBA guard and No. 9 overall draft pick had a solid pro career. But Walker was at his best on the college hardwood, sinking huge late-game shots and reminding the world about the power of staying in school. He played for Connecticut for three years and gradually built toward his 2010-11 breakthrough. Getty Images - GettyKemba Walker perfected big shots in college[/caption] 9. Magic Johnson, Michigan State Johnson was almost a walking triple-double, averaging 17.1 points, 7.9 assists and 7.6 rebounds during his two years with the Spartans. He also played in one of the most famous games in basketball history. The 1979 national championship featured Larry Bird and Indiana State vs the future Los Angeles Lakers legend and Michigan State. Johnson got the best of Bird, 75-64, igniting a rivalry that soon turned the NBA into one of the world’s most popular sports. 8. Glen Rice, Michigan Rice was dominant from 1986-89 and spent four years at Michigan. In 2025, one-and-done dominates college basketball. Rice was the exact opposite, playing 134 games (101 starts) for the Wolverines and walking away as a champion. March Madness Top Stories Ranking the greatest players in NCAA men’s March Madness history – from Michael Jordan to Magic Johnson ‘This sister is special’ – Stephen A. Smith identifies rising star who can challenge Caitlin Clark’s WNBA dominance NCAA March Madness is bigger and better than the College Football Playoff – the springtime phenomenon is bigger than ever Biggest March Madness upsets in history of NCAA Tournament – top seeds humiliated as small schools enjoy their moment He averaged 25.6 points and 6.4 rebounds as a senior, then became the No. 4 overall pick of the 1989 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat. Glen Rice showed what staying in school can do for college starsGetty 7. Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston One of the best big men in NBA history is also one of the best big men in college basketball history. The Dream started his hardwood art with the Cougars, averaging 16.8 points, 13.5 rebounds and a staggering 5.6 blocks in 1983-84 while being named an All-American. Houston fell to Georgetown in the national championship game. But Olajuwon soon became the No. 1 overall pick of a 1984 draft that included five future Hall of Famers. 6. Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati Three unbelievable seasons at Cincinnati. Three All-American selections. Throw in stats that are still surreal (33.8 points, 15.2 rebounds, 7.1 assists), and one of the most underrated players in basketball history was clearly ahead of his time in college. Robertson led the NCAA in scoring for three consecutive seasons, then became a 12-time All-Star in the pros. The No. 1 pick of the 1960 NBA Draft set the stage for Russell Westbrook and all the crafty guards who followed the Big O. Oscar Robertson was a triple-double machine in collegeGetty 5. Patrick Ewing, Georgetown Ewing is also one of the best big men in NBA history, and he was more dominant that Olajuwon in college. He played in 143 games, averaged 15.3 points and 9.2 rebounds, and earned three All-American selections. The Hoyas won it all in 1983-84, then fell 66-64 to Villanova a year later. Georgetown has never been as good since the future New York Knicks inside force went to the pros. Ewing also had a better college career than Air Jordan, who failed to make this top 10 despite his NCAA heroism. 4. Danny Manning, Kansas The pro disappointment was a college dream. Manning led Kanas all the way in 1987-88, again proving the value of playing all four years. He averaged 14.6 points as a freshman, 16.7 as a sophomore, 23.9 as a junior and 24.8 as a senior, earning honor after honor. The three-time All-American won the Wooden and Naismith Awards, and was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team. Manning played 15 seasons in the NBA, made
Larry Bird, Jerry West and Carmelo Anthony first became famous in the NCAA Tournament.
Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing and Jimmer Fredette created the beginnings of their basketball legacies in the madness of March.
With the men’s tourney returning to finish off the 2024-25 basketball season, Duke’s Cooper Flagg is the latest big name in the college game.
Auburn, Houston, Florida and Duke are the No. 1 seeds on the way to the Final Four in San Antonio, Texas.
But it’s hard to imagine any player topping Kemba Walker’s magical run in 2010-11, which ended with Connecticut lifting a trophy.
Here is talkSPORT’s list of the 10 greatest players in NCAA men’s tournament history.
10. Kemba Walker, Connecticut
Walker averaged 23.5 points, started 41 games, and carried the Huskies to the peak of The Dance.
It’s hard to be better than that in March.
The future NBA guard and No. 9 overall draft pick had a solid pro career.
But Walker was at his best on the college hardwood, sinking huge late-game shots and reminding the world about the power of staying in school.
He played for Connecticut for three years and gradually built toward his 2010-11 breakthrough.
9. Magic Johnson, Michigan State
Johnson was almost a walking triple-double, averaging 17.1 points, 7.9 assists and 7.6 rebounds during his two years with the Spartans.
He also played in one of the most famous games in basketball history.
The 1979 national championship featured Larry Bird and Indiana State vs the future Los Angeles Lakers legend and Michigan State.
Johnson got the best of Bird, 75-64, igniting a rivalry that soon turned the NBA into one of the world’s most popular sports.
8. Glen Rice, Michigan
Rice was dominant from 1986-89 and spent four years at Michigan.
In 2025, one-and-done dominates college basketball.
Rice was the exact opposite, playing 134 games (101 starts) for the Wolverines and walking away as a champion.
March Madness Top Stories
Ranking the greatest players in NCAA men’s March Madness history – from Michael Jordan to Magic Johnson
‘This sister is special’ – Stephen A. Smith identifies rising star who can challenge Caitlin Clark’s WNBA dominance
NCAA March Madness is bigger and better than the College Football Playoff – the springtime phenomenon is bigger than ever
Biggest March Madness upsets in history of NCAA Tournament – top seeds humiliated as small schools enjoy their moment
He averaged 25.6 points and 6.4 rebounds as a senior, then became the No. 4 overall pick of the 1989 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat.
7. Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston
One of the best big men in NBA history is also one of the best big men in college basketball history.
The Dream started his hardwood art with the Cougars, averaging 16.8 points, 13.5 rebounds and a staggering 5.6 blocks in 1983-84 while being named an All-American.
Houston fell to Georgetown in the national championship game.
But Olajuwon soon became the No. 1 overall pick of a 1984 draft that included five future Hall of Famers.
6. Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati
Three unbelievable seasons at Cincinnati.
Three All-American selections.
Throw in stats that are still surreal (33.8 points, 15.2 rebounds, 7.1 assists), and one of the most underrated players in basketball history was clearly ahead of his time in college.
Robertson led the NCAA in scoring for three consecutive seasons, then became a 12-time All-Star in the pros.
The No. 1 pick of the 1960 NBA Draft set the stage for Russell Westbrook and all the crafty guards who followed the Big O.
5. Patrick Ewing, Georgetown
Ewing is also one of the best big men in NBA history, and he was more dominant that Olajuwon in college.
He played in 143 games, averaged 15.3 points and 9.2 rebounds, and earned three All-American selections.
The Hoyas won it all in 1983-84, then fell 66-64 to Villanova a year later.
Georgetown has never been as good since the future New York Knicks inside force went to the pros.
Ewing also had a better college career than Air Jordan, who failed to make this top 10 despite his NCAA heroism.
4. Danny Manning, Kansas
The pro disappointment was a college dream.
Manning led Kanas all the way in 1987-88, again proving the value of playing all four years.
He averaged 14.6 points as a freshman, 16.7 as a sophomore, 23.9 as a junior and 24.8 as a senior, earning honor after honor.
The three-time All-American won the Wooden and Naismith Awards, and was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team.
Manning played 15 seasons in the NBA, made two All-Star teams and won Sixth Man of the Year.
But he’ll always be associated with the Jayhawks.
3. Christian Laettner, Duke
One of the best players in NCAA March Madness history was also one of the most controversial.
It’s hard to imagine a Laettner-type existing in 2025.
The two-time NCAA champion earned his stripes with the Blue Devils, rising from 16 starts and 8.9 average points as a freshman into 35 starts and 21.5 points as a senior.
Laettner went back-to-back before the one-and-dones took over, becoming the face of the college game when it was peaking in America.
He was so good that he was the only college player on the Dream Team, the best team in basketball history.
2. Bill Walton, UCLA
Walton averaged 21.1 points and 15.5 rebounds while being named Player of the Year — as a sophomore.
The three-time Naismith Award winner made three NCAA All-Tournament teams and earned three All-American selections.
Add in two NCAA championships, and one of the most unique players in basketball history was only topped by one other player in March Madness history.
1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, UCLA
Also known as Lew Alcindor.
And a three-time NCAA champion whose college name is still revered more than 50 years later.
The future NBA No. 1 pick and Lakers legend was the centerpiece of John Wooden’s Bruins dynasty.
Abdul-Jabbar averaged 26.4 points and 15.5 rebounds while shooting an awesome 63.9 percent from the field.
He was a three-time All-American who developed an unguardable shot, then became a basketball icon.
How to watch March Madness in the UK
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March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the year for basketball fans, with a total of 68 teams battling it out to become the Division 1 college champions.
This year UConn have the chance to become only the second team ever to complete a March Madness three-peat, having emerged victorious for the last two years.
talkSPORT will have the latest news on the tournament, but for UK basketball fans the way to watch is through Sky Sports. The broadcaster will be showing EVERY March Madness game through their Sky Sports + streaming service.
Click here to sign up to a Sky Sports subscription, or read our article on the best Sky Sports deals available now.
