Final Four 2026: Most Outstanding Player for NCAA tournament, year by year

The 2026 Final Four for the men’s NCAA tournament is set. Illinois faces UConn at 5:09 p.m. ET Saturday, April 4, followed by Michigan against Arizona at 7:49 p.m.

Come Monday night, there will be a new national champion. The NCAA also will crown a Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. Here’s a look at who has won the award every year of the tournament since 1939.

Year

Player

Class

School

2025

Walter Clayton Jr.

Senior

Florida

2024

Tristen Newton

Senior

UConn

2023

Adama Sanogo

Junior

UConn

2022

Ochai Agbaji

Senior

Kansas

2021

Jared Butler

Junior

Baylor

2020

No tournament because of pandemic

2019

Kyle Guy

Junior

Virginia

2018

Donte DiVincenzo

Junior

Villanova

2017

Joel Berry II

Junior

North Carolina

2016

Ryan Arcidiacono

Senior

Villanova

2015

Tyus Jones

Freshman

Duke

2014

Shabazz Napier

Senior

UConn

2013

Luke Hancock

Senior

Louisville

2012

Anthony Davis

Freshman

Kentucky

2011

Kemba Walker

Junior

UConn

2010

Kyler Singler

Junior

Duke

2009

Wayne Ellington

Junior

North Carolina

2008

Mario Chalmers

Junior

Kansas

2007

Corey Brewer

Junior

Florida

2006

Joakim Noah

Sophomore

Florida

2005

Sean May

Junior

North Carolina

2004

Emeka Okafor

Junior

UConn

2003

Carmelo Anthony

Freshman

Syracuse

2002

Juan Dixon

Senior

Maryland

2001

Shane Battier

Senior

Duke

2000

Mateen Cleaves

Senior

Michigan State

1999

Richard Hamilton

Junior

UConn

1998

Jeff Sheppard

Senior

Kentucky

1997

Miles Simon

Junior

Arizona

1996

Tony Delk

Senior

Kentucky

1995

Ed O’Bannon

Senior

UCLA

1994

Corliss Williamson

Junior

Arkansas

1993

Donald Williams

Sophomore

North Carolina

1992

Bobby Hurley

Junior

Duke

1991

Christian Laettner

Junior

Duke

1990

Anderson Hunt

Sophomore

UNLV

1989

Glen Rice

Senior

Michigan

1988

Danny Manning

Senior

Kansas

1987

Keith Smart

Junior

Indiana

1986

Pervis Ellison

Freshman

Louisville

1985

Ed Pinckney

Senior

Villanova

1984

Patrick Ewing

Junior

Georgetown

1983

Akeem Olajuwon

Sophomore

Houston

1982

James Worthy

Junior

North Carolina

1981

Isiah Thomas

Sophomore

Indiana

1980

Darrell Griffith

Senior

Louisville

1979

Magic Johnson

Sophomore

Michigan State

1978

Jack Givens

Senior

Kentucky

1977

Butch Lee

Junior

Marquette

1976

Kent Benson

Junior

Indiana

1975

Richard Washington

Sophomore

UCLA

1974

David…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/mens-college-basketball/article/final-four-2026-most-outstanding-player-for-ncaa-tournament-year-by-year-225436573.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2026-04-02 22:54:00

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