The NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Players In 2025 And Over The Years

GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 03: TV personality Jim Nantz speaks to Most Outstanding Player Joel Berry II ... More #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 3, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Tar Heels defeated the Bulldogs 71-65. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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Throughout the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. has put together one of the most dominant runs in recent memory. In five games, he is averaging 24.6 points and shooting 50% from the field (33 of 66), including 48.7% (19 of 39) on 3-pointers. He had the best game of his career in Saturday night’s Final Four, scoring 34 points on 11 of 18 shooting (5 of 8 on 3’s) in Florida’s 79-73 victory over Auburn.
On Monday night, Clayton Jr. will attempt to close his season on a high note when Florida (35-4) faces Houston (35-4) in the national title game in San Antonio. The Gators will likely need another clutch performance from Clayton Jr., who is the favorite to win the Final Four Most Outstanding Player (MOP) award.
Still, Monday’s game will go a long way in determining who wins the award, which is given to the player who performs best in the Final Four and national title game and not for who is best for the entire tournament. As such, someone besides Clayton Jr. could emerge with the award, especially if Houston wins.
Houston guard L.J. Cryer scored a team-high 26 points in Saturday’s 70-67 victory over Duke, during which the Cougars scored the final nine points in the last 33 seconds to pull off the improbable comeback. Cryer had 14 points in the second half, including making two free throws with three seconds remaining to clinch Houston’s 18th consecutive victory. Cryer could become the first player to win a national title with two teams. He was a reserve on Baylor’s 2021 team that defeated Gonzaga in the championship game.
For Houston, guard Emanuel Sharp (16 points on Saturday) and forward J’Wan Roberts (11 points and 12 rebounds) could have a shot at the MOP considering their performances against Duke. Roberts made two free throws to put Houston up 68-67 and then played tight man-to-man defense on the other end, leading to Duke star freshman Cooper Flagg missing a jumper short with eight seconds left. Sharp had seven points in the final 1:27, making all four of his free throws and connecting on a 3 to cut Houston’s deficit to 67-64 with 33 seconds remaining.