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March Madness: Top 100 players in the 2019 NCAA Tournament

By Tristan Freeman

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 09: Grant Williams #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half of the game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 9, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 09: Grant Williams #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half of the game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 9, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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MADISON, WISCONSIN – FEBRUARY 12: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts in the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center on February 12, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN – FEBRUARY 12: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts in the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center on February 12, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

5. Grant Williams – Tennessee

2018-19 stats: 19.0 ppg 7.6 rpg 3.1 apg

It’s incredibly rare for the SEC to have a two-time Player of the Year, let alone one from Tennessee. Making it greater for Vols fans is that Williams isn’t even a senior yet. The forward has improved all aspects of his game, including being a better passer from the post. But Williams remains a great scorer when it counts, which includes that career-high 43 points in the road overtime win over Vanderbilt. Best part of that game he went 23-23 from the free throw line.

4. Ja Morant – Murray State

2018-19 stats: 24.6 ppg 5.5 rpg 10.0 apg

The obvious Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year choice, Morant led the Racers back to the NCAA Tournament after putting up 36 points in a win over Belmont. That’s not even his highest output this season, going for 40 against SIU-Edwardsville. The sophomore led the nation in assists, with seven straight games with at least 10+. And there were the two games with tripled-doubles on the season as well. Morant will now go from playing on ESPN+ to the grandest of stages as he looks to solidify his top-3 NBA Draft spot.

3. Markus Howard – Marquette

2018-19 stats: 25.0 ppg 4.0 rpg 4.0 apg

The 2019 Big East Player of the Year winner, Howard is one of the best pure scorers in the country. He’s reached the 30-point mark 10 different times, with a record 53-point effort against Creighton in overtime. Howard also had 45 points twice this season as well. Even with all the shots, the junior was still efficient, going for 41% from deep on seven attempts a night. And even if he struggles from the field, Howard can get to the free line a ton, where he makes 89% of them.

2. Cassius Winston – Michigan State

2018-19 stats: 18.9 ppg 3.1 rpg 7.6 apg

It’s been an outstanding season for the junior point guard. He’s won Big Ten Player of the Year and is a frontrunner for the Bob Cousy Award. Winston is third in the country in assists and very rarely had an off game. The reason why the Spartan is ranked No. 2 on this list is due to how he carried the team even after injuries to other key players. The Big Ten was top to bottom the best conference and Winston kept Michigan State right at the top and won the conference tournament. Might not have the same stats or Howard or Morant but would they have kept the Spartans this good?

1. Zion Williamson – Duke

2018-19 stats: 22.1 ppg 8.9 rpg 2.1 apg

Even after missing a couple of weeks due to a knee injury, Williamson was the clear guy for ACC Player of the Year. We haven’t seen anything like the 6’7 and 285-pound big man who can move like he does. He made 69% of his field goals and is a good defender to boot. There were a number of performances that helped create the legend of Zion, including the 28 points against Kentucky to start out the season.

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But the top game has to go with the ACC semifinals matchup against rival UNC. Williamson missed the first two games with the Tar Heels but went for 31 points and 11 rebounds to get some revenge. There haven’t been many games where he wasn’t taking over for nearly 40 minutes. And unless some team finds a way to stop that, the No. 1 player on this list will be the last one standing with his teammates as national champions.

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