Final Four players to know (beyond Cooper Flagg): L.J. Cryer, Kon Knueppel and more

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The Final Four is set, and for just the second time in NCAA Tournament history, all four top seeds have advanced to college basketball’s promised land.

One of those top seeds, Duke, has the biggest superstar not just of the tournament but in all of college basketball. Cooper Flagg is the presumptive national player of the year and likely No. 1 pick of the 2025 NBA Draft.

But he’s far from the only important player who will be in San Antonio. Here’s who else you should keep an eye on (in alphabetical order).

Chad Baker-Mazara, Auburn

The Tigers’ 6-foot-7, 180-pound senior guard is one of the best shooting guards in the tournament, connecting on 44.3 percent of his attempts, which stretches defenses and gives big man Johni Broome more room to operate in the paint. Baker-Mazara’s 12.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game have been critical to Auburn’s success this season.

But he’s also unpredictable. Baker-Mazara has been tossed twice in the past 13 months, first in the Tigers’ opening-round upset loss to Yale in the 2024 tournament and more recently, in Auburn’s final regular-season game, an overtime loss to Alabama (in both cases he was ejected for a flagrant foul). In the Elite Eight versus Michigan State, officials sought out Baker-Mazara before tip to remind him to keep his cool during the game.

His contribution will be key to Auburn competing for the national championship … provided he stays on the floor.

Johni Broome, Auburn

Flagg’s biggest competition for national player of the year awards, Broome is a 6-10, 240-pound forward who won SEC player of the year and averages 18.7 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists. A senior from Plant City, Fla. — about 30 miles east of Tampa — Broome started his college career at Morehead State before transferring to Auburn in 2022. He’s blossomed under Bruce Pearl, collecting numerous All-American awards this season and last. As Michigan State coach Tom Izzo devised a game plan to try to slow Broome, he said he was challenged by how the Auburn big man “scores in so many different ways.”

He’s a constant double-double threat, with 21 this season, the most of anyone left in the tournament. He’s in his fifth year, one of the last of the COVID-19 players who got an extra year of eligibility because of the pandemic. When he had to leave the floor to receive medical treatment during Auburn’s Elite Eight game, there was a collective gasp of concern, both in the arena and online. He returned to help Auburn secure its spot in San Antonio.

Walter Clayton Jr., Florida

Florida coach Todd Golden said it best about the 6-3, 195-pound guard: “There’s not another player in America you would rather have right now with the ball in his hands in a big-time moment.”

That’s especially true during this NCAA Tournament, where Clayton has impressed. After leading Florida past UConn in the second round, the senior traveled across the country to San Francisco’s Chase Center, better known as the House Steph Curry Built, for the West Regional. There he drew comparisons to Curry, the best shooter in NBA history, for his ability to take, and make, big-time shots. Then he did exactly that in the Elite Eight against Texas Tech, hitting two crucial 3s in the final 1:47 to push Florida to its first Final Four since 2014.

Clayton isn’t big, but he’s a master of creating space to get his shot off at just the right time, and he loves the pressure of the big moment. He’s also a solid distributor, handing out 4.2 assists per game. He averages 3.6 rebounds per game, too. His biggest contribution is one that can’t be measured: confidence. He never hesitates to take the big shot, even if he’s had a rough night. And as he proved against Texas Tech, he tends to get hot at the right time.

Florida guards Walter Clayton Jr. (1) and Alijah Martin are part of a deep Gators roster. (Kyle Terada / Imagn Images)

L.J. Cryer, Houston

Do not be fooled, or dismissive, of this undersized guard. Cryer might be 6-1, but all he does is win and hit big shots. He is the best 3-point shooter in San Antonio, connecting on 41.85 percent of his attempts.

One of Houston’s biggest strengths is its balanced scoring attack, with four players who average double digits. Cryer is the leader at 15.4 points per game but capable of exploding for more, especially when Houston is matched against top competition. Cryer had 30 points in the Cougars’ second-round nail-biter over Gonzaga, 28 against then-No. 8 Iowa State in late February (a key win in Houston’s bid to earn the Big 12 regular-season conference title) and 30 in a big nonconference matchup against then-No. 9 Alabama. Cryer is a transfer from Baylor and was a freshman on the Bears’ 2021 title team, though he played only one minute that game.

Kon Knueppel, Duke

After Flagg, Knueppel is probably the best NBA prospect in San Antonio, a distinction he earned after a stellar ACC tournament — which the Blue Devils played without Flagg, who was injured. Knueppel averaged 21 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists. His NCAA Tournament numbers are down slightly (14.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists), but that’s because Flagg is fully healthy.

Still, he led Duke with 21 points in its Elite Eight win over Alabama and gained confidence from being the go-to guy for a stretch. He’s a reliable long-distance shooter (40.1 percent from 3 for the season), and his crafty footwork helps him finish around the rim — both impressive skills considering his 6-7, 217-pound frame. His athleticism isn’t going to overwhelm anyone, but it doesn’t have to; the bottom line is, he knows how to score.

And in the understatement of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, he’s shooting well going into San Antonio: Knueppel is 17-of-32 (53.1 percent) from the field through four games, including 7-of-13 from 3 (53.8 percent).

Alijah Martin, Florida

The Gators are the most talented team in the country top to bottom, and they have more depth than anyone else. Martin is a key part, averaging 14.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 45.5 percent from the field. But the reason the 6-2, 210-pound senior guard is on this list is because of his experience — as in, Final Four experience.

This is Martin’s first season at Florida after a stellar career at Florida Atlantic, where he helped lead the ninth-seeded Owls to the 2023 Final Four. Martin was a solid player at FAU that year and played his best game of the tournament in FAU’s national semifinal loss to San Diego State, scoring 26 in a 1-point loss. Martin has said he leans on his postseason experience, constantly reminding his UF teammates “remember where you come from because this team is full of underdogs. We haven’t had success.”

He is also, according to his teammates, a ruthless trash talker who chatters loudly (and often) because he wants defenders to hear him.

Milos Uzan, Houston

The ultimate facilitator, Uzan does everything for the Cougars — including score game winners, as he did in Houston’s Sweet 16 victory over Purdue.

A high-IQ point guard praised for his motor, the 6-4, 190-pound Uzan knows who needs the ball and when; his 4.4 assists per game are more than double that of anyone else on Houston’s roster. The junior from Las Vegas is remarkably steady, averaging 11.6 points and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 46.3 percent from the field.

Something else that makes Uzan unique: He is the only transfer Houston took last spring. He played his first two seasons at Oklahoma.

​(Top photos of Kon Knueppel, left, and L.J. Cryer: Jared C. Tilton, Andy Lyons / Getty Images)

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