SAN ANTONIO – Mark this down just in case. Only five freshmen have ever been named Most Outstanding Player at the Final Four, from Utah’s Arnie Ferrin in 1944, the year before he was drafted for World War II, to Duke’s Tyus Jones in 2015. It just doesn’t happen very often. Takes a special player in the right place at the right time.

Cooper Flagg and the Duke Blue Devils put together a great run during the 2024-25 college basketball season. Unfortunately, they fell short of their goal of winning a national championship. Duke ended up making it to the Final Four before being eliminated by the Houston Cougars.