March Madness is an event known for making stars. It seems like every year we see a player change their lives with a big time performance in March, whether it’s with one timely shot like Bryce Drew in 1998 or with a string of legendary performances like Kemba Walker in 2011. Here are five players that could become household names this March.
Bennett Stirtz, Drake
2024-25 stats: 18.9 PTS, 4.4 REB, 5.9 AST, 2.2 STL
What makes him special: Simply put, Stirtz has shined since transferring to Drake from Division II Northwest Missouri State this past offseason. The newly-crowned Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year has been the driving force behind Drake’s historic season, leading the team in points, assists and steals per game.
Stirtz has led Drake in scoring 16 times overall this season and he’s led the team in assists in all but two games. Stirtz also leads the country in percentage of minutes played at 98.7 percent, which comes out to a remarkable 39.3 minutes per game.
Why Drake can make a run: Stirtz has been his best when Drake needs him the most. The Bulldogs are 5-0 in overtime games this season and Stirtz has led the team in both scoring and assists in four of them. If Drake is to make the deep Cinderella run many suspect it might, it will be on Stirtz’s shoulders.
Donovan Dent, New Mexico
2024-25 stats: 20.4 PTS, 2.3 REB, 6.5 AST
What makes him special: Dent hasn’t been named the Mountain West Player of the Year just yet, but the honor was surely locked up with a 33-point performance in Saturday’s 71-67 win over Nevada. With the win, the Lobos captured their first regular season Mountain West title since 2014 and all but made themselves a lock for the Big Dance.
While Dent was snubbed from consideration for a few other prestigious awards, the sophomore guard absolutely belongs in the conversation among the best guards in college basketball. Dent ranks in the top 15 nationally in both scoring and assists and leads in the Mountain West in percentage of possessions used at 28.4 percent. Dent doesn’t just have the numbers, he passes the eye test with flying colors, too. His elite driving and flashy finishing ability makes him a highlight reel waiting to happen.
Why New Mexico can make a run: Dent’s best performance of the season was a 40-point, four assist outing that propelled New Mexico to a 78-71 win over Atlantic 10 co-champion VCU in December, proving that he can bring it against anyone. If he continues to play the way he has been, New Mexico is going to cause problems for a favorite this month.
PJ Haggerty, Memphis
2024-25 stats: 21.3 PTS, 5.4 REB, 3.7 AST
What makes him special: Of the five players listed, Haggerty might be the safest bet to make some noise this March. Haggerty is the nation’s sixth leading scorer and he’s been the main reason behind Memphis’ resurgence after a scandal-ridden campaign a year ago. Haggerty is a model of flash and efficiency, shooting 49.1 percent from the field overall and 40.1 percent from 3-point range. He’s also a nuisance on the defensive end, pacing Memphis with 1.8 steals per game.
Why Memphis can make a run: Haggerty has scored 25+ points in nine games this season, leading Memphis to an impressive 25-5 record overall. The Tigers also ran through the AAC, posting a 15-2 record in conference play. Memphis is a team that nobody wants to see on their side of the bracket and Haggerty’s performance this season is the number one reason why. If there’s anyone in the tournament who can put together a Kemba-like string of performances to lead their team on a run, Haggerty fits that bill perfectly. With Memphis in position for a No. 3 seed just like UConn was in 2011, we could be on the verge of some historical deja vu.
Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, UC San Diego
2024-25 stats: 19.8 pts, 5.3 reb, 3.4 ast
What makes him special: Tait-Jones has been the best player in college basketball this season that you’ve probably never heard of. The 6’6 shooting guard from Wellington, New Zealand leads UC San Diego in all three major statistical categories, while also shooting the ball at a 58.9 percent clip. Tait-Jones has scored 20+ points 13 times this season and he’s been UC San Diego’s leading scorer in eight of its last 10 games.
Why UC San Diego can make a run: UC San Diego has the potential to be one of the most captivating Cinderella stories we’ve ever seen in March, as the Tritons are eligible for the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history after completing the four-year transition to Division 1. UC San Diego isn’t just a nice story either, it might just be the hottest team in all of college hoops. The Tritons have won two of their last three games by at least 39 points and they’ve won 10 of their last 11 games by double-digits. Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones might be the Mid-Major version of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with the play style and hyphenated name to match. Look out for the New Zealander this month.
Jacob Ognacevic, Lipscomb
2024-25 stats: 20.3 pts, 8.0 reb, 1.5 ast
What makes him special: This one might be a bit more of a longshot than the others given Lipscomb’s upset chances, but what Ognacevic has done for the Bison deserves to be recognized. Lipscomb enters the Atlantic Sun tournament as a substantial favorite to capture the conference’s bid to the NCAA tournament, almost solely because of their Wisconsin-born scoring machine.
Ognacevic, a Sheboygan native, is the sixteenth leading scorer in all of Division I hoops at 20.3 points per game. Ognacevic led the Bison in scoring in 22 of their 32 regular season games and he’s scored 20+ points each of Lipscomb’s last seven games and in 18 games this season overall.
Why Lipscomb can make a run: Lipscomb is likely looking at a No. 13 seed according to most bracketologists should it win the ASUN tournament, which gives the Bison a small chance at pulling off a big time upset in the first round. Ognacevic’s scoring ability could certainly pose problems for an opponent if they have an off-shooting night.
