Ranking Top 10 best players in South Region of 2025 NCAA Tournament

The NCAA Tournament turns all attention to the college basketball world, which provides everyone the opportunity to become a household name. Plenty players across the bracket will look to become March Madness legends with a strong performance.

Each region is loaded with talent, but not every player with great stats is necessarily a household name entering March. This is the opportunity for players to show their skillset in front of the world.

Listed below are the Top 10 players in the South Region of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, plus five honorable mentions who were just too good to leave off completely. The list is not complete, with plenty of cuts made which could prove valuable in March Madness, but still offers a glimpse at who to watch.

1 Johni Broome (Auburn)

2024-25 stats: 18.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.3 blocks

Johni Broome has led college basketball all season, coming down to the wire in a close National Player of the Year race after leading Auburn to a No. 1 overall seed. The center has developed his game and added new skills which make him unstoppable on both ends of the floor. The focus of every gameplan, he looks to write his name in March Madness history with more two-way performances.

2 Chucky Hepburn (Louisville)

2024-25 stats: 16.2 points, 5.8 assists, 2.5 assists

Chucky Hepburn has been on the radar as a high-level college basketball guard for a number of years, but after transferring to Louisville he took on a new role. While starring for the Cardinals, he has lifted his game to a new level on both ends of the court. With the potential to change the game in multiple ways, he could be the catalyst for a tournament run.

3 Danny Wolf (Michigan)

2024-25 stats: 13.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists

Danny Wolf is one of the most versatile players in college basketball, running the show on offense as a 7-footer with great passing vision. He has also taken over big responsibilities on the boards and worked to stay on the floor defensively with another center. He now arrives to the national stage with all the tools to amaze viewers.

4 RJ Davis (North Carolina)

2024-25 stats: 17.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists

RJ Davis has established himself as an All-American level guard throughout his college basketball career. Despite a down season, he has still but up impressive offensive numbers to help keep North Carolina in position for an NCAA Tournament appearance. Now, back on the stage, he has the chance to unlock the magic he showed in previous seasons.

5 Donovan Dent (New Mexico)

2024-25 stats: 20.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, 6.4 assists

Donovan Dent has flown slightly under the radar in the Mountain West this season, leading New Mexico to another successful season. After taking on a big role as the go-to scorer, he also blossomed into a playmaker for his teammates in the process. A big NCAA Tournament run could see his stock fly through the roof and write his name in March Madness history.

6 Kam Jones (Marquette)

2024-25 stats: 19.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists

Kam Jones took over as the go-to guy for Marquette this season after seeing his teammates leave for the NBA. Once the pure scorer, he has turned his game into a more well-rounded role as the lead guard able to get everyone involved.

7 Tamin Lipsey (Iowa State)

2024-25 stats: 10.8 points, 3.2 assists, 2.1 steals

Tamin Lipsey has led this Iowa State group to big success across multiple seasons, always finding ways to impact winning on the floor no matter the contest. Now short one of his talented teammates, he will need to take on an increased scoring role throughout the NCAA Tournament.

8 Jase Richardson (Michigan State)

2024-25 stats: 12.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists

Jase Richardson has been a difference maker for Michigan State all season, first off the bench and now in the starting lineup. Since the promotion, his numbers have skyrocketed and so has the team’s success across the biggest games.

9 Vlad Goldin (Michigan)

2024-25 stats: 16.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.4 blocks

Vlad Goldin returns to March Madness as a Michigan big, looking to repeat the success he found at FAU over previous years. Part of a two-big system, his impact has been funneled into many of the things he does best this season.

10 Wade Taylor (Texas A&M)

2024-25 stats: 15.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists

Wade Taylor is the heart and soul of the Texas A&M team which continues to produce no matter the competition. Throughout his career, he has become increasingly more consistent on offense, providing a base for the elite defensive unit.

Honorable Mentions: Miles Byrd, Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, John Poulakidas, Nelly Jr. Joseph, Sean Pedulla