THE MOST exciting period of the men’s college basketball calendar is here, with March Madness set to begin in the NCAAM on the 18th of March, with the next generation of stars set to put their skills to the test on the big stage.

With the 2025 NBA Draft set to take place in June, the college basketball scene comes to an end for another year when the National Tournament wraps up in a month’s time. The March Madness period will see top prospects pitted against each other in one final push to press their claims for as high of a selection in the draft as possible.

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will give you the rundown on some players to keep an eye out for throughout the tournament, starting with the projected top pick in a few months’ time.

March Madness Players to Watch

1. Cooper Flagg (Duke Blue Devils)

Flagg is nearly certain to be the first name called out at the 2025 NBA Draft, having excelled as a complete prospect throughout his time in a Duke uniform. Despite being cryptic about his commitment to the draft, Flagg is the best player in the class and could be a franchise player for the luckiest team in the draft lottery.

Perhaps the most impressive facet of his game is Flagg’s ability to contribute in just about every key area of the game. He rebounds above his size, he can score heavily across all three levels, both off the dribble and from a catch, he can create for others and he can defend one through five. There simply is not a lot he cannot do, which makes him the perfect centrepiece for an NBA team.

Throughout the 2024/25 NCAAM season, Flagg has cemented himself as the top prospect in the 2025 draft class, averaging 19.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game, and has thrived as the centerpiece of the premier team in college basketball. Flagg simply has star potential and will be must-see whenever he is on the court.

2. Alex Condon (Florida Gators)

Australia’s best draft prospect for 2025 will be hitting the court with the Gators in the National Tournament, having bolted up the rankings with a superb showing in the 2024/25 season to date. Having previously signed with the Collingwood Magpies in the AFL as a rookie, Condon’s future now seems to be pointing towards the NBA having emerged as one of the biggest sleepers in the draft class.

A big man who has a seriously deep skillset, Condon has become a key figure in Florida’s offensive sets, often getting plenty of touches in halfcourt sets. He possesses some of the best passing skills for a big man in the entire NCAAM, with guards taking full advantage of this and wrapping around Condon, who then delivers a timely pass to his cutting teammates. Defensively, he can lock down any player in the paint with his impressive reach and impactful timing, and this will only improve as he adds more size.

He has taken immense steps forward throughout the course of the season, and is currently posting averages of 11.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.4 blocks on 51.7 per cent shooting. Condon has been named the SEC player of the week three times throughout the 2024/25 season, and has elevated himself into first round pick contention in his sophomore season.

3. Tyrese Proctor (Duke Blue Devils)

The second Blue Devil to appear on this list, Proctor will be an interesting watch in March Madness, given his current standing on the brink of draft rankings heading into the tournament. Proctor has fallen victim to the sheer star power of Flagg, who has demanded more touches and taken charge on the offensive side of things. The Aussie point guard was previously considered a top-10 draft pick as the orchestrator of Duke’s offence, but has been forced to pivot into an off-ball role.

Proctor’s shift into his new role required some adaption, and he did all he could to still prove valuable on the offensive end. He improved up to a 40 per cent three-point shooter, which is a five per cent boost on last season, and was able to announce himself as a valuable contributor around the perimeter. NBA teams will still see value in what he produced in his first two seasons with the Blue Devils as a creative point guard who opens up scoring opportunities for others while also being able to score in the midrange and attack the rim.

Throughout the 2024/25 season, Proctor has still been able to average 12 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.1 blocks per game on 44.1 per cent shooting, albeit in a reduced role. Although he is not guaranteed selection at the NBA Draft, he has adapted his game, but will still be hoping for a big performance in March.