The 2025 NCAA Tournament has so far largely favored higher-seeded teams through the initial rounds, meaning we haven’t seen the usual flood of unexpected surprises. While this might have dampened some of the usual chaos, it’s led to an incredible lineup of games as we head into the Sweet 16 and beyond. All the squads still in the running come from big-name conferences, which means that many of the standout players in college basketball are still eyeing the national title. From standout talents like Cooper Flagg and Johni Broome, both strong contenders for National Player of the Year, to some of the most formidable players from the Big Ten and Big 12, the tournament is packed with star power.
As we approach the final stages, the journey to becoming the national champion will showcase some of the top prospects for the NBA Draft. The level of skill and talent on display in the upcoming games will surely captivate college basketball enthusiasts.
Whoever ends up cutting down the nets in San Antonio will almost certainly boast at least one of the nation’s top-tier players, given the wealth of Power Five talent still competing.
Here’s a look at 16 standout players from the Sweet 16, who are set to influence the quest for the collegiate basketball national championship in a big way.
