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CBS Announces College Basketball National Player Of The Year

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Apr 2, 2025 3:21 PM ET

CBS revealed its men's basketball National Player of the Year on Wednesday.

Ahead of a stacked Final Four, CBS said the decision boiled down to Duke's Cooper Flagg and Auburn Johni Broome. The Blue Devils star ultimately won the honor.

Already named ACC Player of the Year, Flagg has averaged 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game in his first season. The 6-foot-9 forward leads Duke into a national semifinal matchup with Houston amid a 13-game winning streak.

"Any questions over whether he'd be ready to go at the highest level of college basketball after reclassifying to graduate high school early were put to rest before he was even a legal adult," David Cobb wrote. "But once he hit 18, Flagg put it in overdrive against ACC competition. During conference action, he averaged 21.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks. He also shot 44% from 3-point range while leading the Blue Devils to a 19-1 league mark."

Despite injuring his ankle during the ACC Tournament, Flagg has averaged 19.5 points in four March Madness victories. He registered 30 points, seven assists, six boards, and three blocks in Duke's only single-digit triumph, a 100-93 win over Arizona in the Sweet 16.

"After a season filled with blowout wins, Flagg needed to show he could deliver under the bright lights, and he did," Cobb noted.

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 21: Cooper Flagg #2 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts during the second half in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament against the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers at Lenovo Center on March 21, 2025 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

CBS also unanimously named Flagg its Freshman of the Year. Cameron Salerno offered lofty praise for the potential No. 1 pick of this year's NBA Draft, calling him "a transformational two-way talent" for whichever team wins the lottery.

"Flagg entered this season as one of the most hyped-up recruits in college basketball history," Salerno wrote. "Somehow, Flagg exceeded that hype around his name and now has a chance to go down as the best one-and-done prospect in the modern era with a national title on his resume."

CBS also named Houston's Kelvin Sampson its Coach of the Year. Sampson will look to justify that label by leading the Cougars to a Final Four win over Flagg's Blue Devils. The colossal showdown starts Saturday at approximately 8:49 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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