Cooper Flagg from Duke aims to become one of the few freshmen to guide their teams to a national championship. As a frontrunner for national player of the year and a likely No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA draft, Flagg could elevate Duke to its sixth national title, marking the first championship under coach Jon Scheyer.
Below is a list ranking the top 20 NCAA tournament performances by freshmen (eligible to play since 1972) in men’s college basketball. The focus is on players who contributed to their teams reaching the national title game, with extra credit given to those who won and an evaluation of their overall performance across the tournament (beyond just a standout game).
We regret not including all the remarkable freshmen who didn’t make it to the final game, but a selection was necessary.
20. Derrick Coleman, Syracuse (1987)
Though Coleman did not secure a championship in the 1987 NCAA tournament, he came close, averaging 10.5 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks while leading Syracuse to victories over teams with future NBA talents before losing to Indiana in the title match.
19. Gene Banks, Duke (1978)
Long before Mike Krzyzewski took charge, Banks pushed Duke to its second national title game, where they fell to Kentucky. He shone during the tournament, averaging 19.2 points and 10.0 rebounds.
18. Gerry McNamara Jr., Syracuse (2003)
While Carmelo Anthony led Syracuse to the 2003 title, McNamara made a significant impact, averaging 13.3 points and 2.5 steals and shooting 41% from three-point range, earning a spot on the all-tournament team.
17. Stephon Castle, UConn (2024)
During UConn’s national championship run last season, Castle exhibited elite defense, notably capturing 12.5 points per game while forcing turnovers from opposing backcourts, showcasing his potential future stardom.
16. Patrick Ewing, Georgetown (1982)
Ewing nearly overshadowed Michael Jordan in the 1982 title game, scoring 23 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in a narrow loss against North Carolina. He averaged 13.2 points throughout the tournament and would later lead Georgetown to a championship.
15. Mike Conley Jr., Ohio State (2007)
Conley played a crucial role in Ohio State’s journey to the championship game, averaging 16.0 points and 4.8 assists while displaying impressive maturity for a freshman during the tournament.
14. Chris Webber, Michigan (1992)
As a key player for the Fab Five, Webber averaged 16.3 points and helped Michigan reach the championship game, even though they lost to Duke by 20 points.
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