Florida’s Richard, Clayton On NCAA All-Tournament Team

The nets have been cut, “One Shining Moment” has been played and the 2025 NCAA men’s basketball season has come to a close. As the Florida Gators end the year atop of the sport, another wild March Madness is over.

After 63 games and many outstanding performances, the best five players of the tournament have been selected to the NCAA All-Tournament Team. Here’s what you need to know about the best stars of March:

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Cooper Flagg’s Dominance

The projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft did not disappoint in March. Cooper Flagg helped his team to Duke’s 18th Final Four appearance before bowing out after a shocking 70-67 loss to Houston. That didn’t stop him from being named to the NCAA All-Tournament team, a rarity only few standouts achieve. Flagg was huge for the Duke Blue Devils throughout the team’s five tournament matchups, averaging 21.0 points per game (PPG), 7.6 rebounds per game (RPG), and 5.0 assists per game (APG).

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The 2025 Wooden Award winner deserved his spot on the starting five, but his placement still remains an anomaly. Only four players since 2000 made the All-Tournament Team without making the National Championship (including Florida’s Alijah Martin in 2023). The versatile freshman was a stellar anchor for Duke and can hold his head high as he departs for the NBA this summer.

A Pair of Cougars

The National Runner-Up Houston Cougars also slotted guard L.J. Cryer and forward J’Wan Roberts into the All-Tournament Team. L.J. Cryer fell short in his journey of becoming the first player to win two national championships with two different teams, previously winning as a freshman with the 2020-21 Baylor squad. The senior from Katy, Texas was incredible for Kelvin Sampson’s team, leading a defensively-focused squad in scoring. Throughout the tournament, Cryer notched a 30-point performance against No. 8 seed Gonzaga and averaged 18.7 PPG overall. The first team All-Big 12 honoree also added 19 points in the National Championship game, leading all scorers.

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As for J’Wan Roberts, his contribution to Houston’s run is just as large in a different regard. Roberts was strong in all facets, adding 9.5 PPG and 7.5 RPG into the mix. However, his biggest moment of the tournament came against Duke in the Final Four. Down one with only 19 seconds remaining, Roberts hit two clutch free throws to put his team in front despite only being 58.9% on free throws throughout his career. The Virgin Island product was instrumental in catapulting Houston into the NCAA Championship Game and will forever be a Houston legend.

National Chompion Duo

For the 2025 National Champion Florida Gators, throwing two standouts into the mix is the icing on the cake. There’s not enough good things you can say about the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player Walter Clayton Jr. The prolific guard from Lake Wales scored 30 points in the Elite Eight and backed it up with a career-high 34 points against Auburn in the Final Four. Averaging 22.3 PPG in six tournament games also gave a significant boost to his draft stock. The senior, who ends his collegiate career with 62 straight appearances with a made three pointer, did it all for Florida in March Madness.

On the flip side, a more unsung hero in Will Richard got the recognition he deserves in the form of adding NCAA All-Tournament to his résumé. Although being the third-in-line within Florida’s strong backcourt and having rough appearances in the Elite Eight and Final Four, Richard was the man of the hour in the biggest game of the year. The Belmont transfer led the eventual champions in scoring and rebounding in the final game, scoring 18 points and hauling in eight rebounds against Houston. While Richard was not as consistent as others featured on this team, he carried the load when the lights shined the brightest and always kept a winning mentality. Without Will Richard, the Gators may not be hoisting the trophy in San Antonio, making him more than worthy for the accolade.

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