Johni Broome of Auburn, Cooper
Flagg of Duke unanimous picks to lead the AP All-America team
[March 19, 2025]
By DAVE SKRETTA
One is a fifth-year senior who began his career at a mid-major, the
other a first-year wunderkind recruited by everyone. The first is a
now leading a program on the rise, while the other is the
unmistakable star for a traditional power.
Johni Broome of Auburn and Cooper Flagg of Duke do have something in
common, though: The forwards were unanimous first-team picks for The
Associated Press men’s college basketball All-America teams released
Tuesday.
They were joined on the first team by Alabama star Mark Sears,
Purdue's Braden Smith and Walter Clayton Jr. of Florida.
Only Broome, a third-team pick a year ago, and Flagg were among the
first five on the ballots of all 61 national media members who vote
for the weekly AP Top 25. Broome becomes the Tigers' fourth
All-American and first to make the first team, while Flagg is the
19th different Blue Devils player to earn first-team recognition.
“He’s doing things nobody really has ever done before," Duke coach
Jon Scheyer said. "And he’s not about numbers. I’m telling you, when
this dude goes home, somebody says to him, ‘Man, you had 42, six and
seven,’ he’ll say, ‘OK, cool.’ That’s not what he’s about, which to
me makes it even better because you can get caught up with that,
especially as a young player.”
Maybe that is something else that Broome and Flagg have in common:
Both are eyeing a national championship. Auburn spent eight weeks at
No. 1 this year, while Duke ascended to the top spot when the Tigers
stumbled down the stretch.
Now, the two programs head to the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 seed
in their respective regions.
“I’ve proved a lot individually through my career but my main goal
is a team goal, which is to win the national championship,” said
Broome, who played two seasons at Morehead State before spending the
past three with the Tigers. "When the team shines, everyone shines
individually. Coming from where I came from, it means a lot to me.”
Sears was a second-team pick last season, when he helped to lead the
Crimson Tide to their first Final Four. He initially declared for
the NBA draft but withdrew in late May, choosing instead to return
to Alabama for another run at a national title.
He's the Crimson Tide's second first-team All-American after Brandon
Miller two years ago.
Smith was an honorable mention pick last year, when Purdue teammate
Zach Edey was a unanimous first-team pick for the second straight
season. With Edey off to the NBA, Smith became the go-to player for
a bunch of Boilermakers who will be trying to return to the national
championship game after losing to UConn there a year ago.
[to top of second column] |
Auburn forward Johni Broome (4) shoots a layup against LSU forward
Corey Chest (11) during the second half of an NCAA college
basketball game in Baton Rouge, La., Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP
Photo/Peter Forest, File)
Florida had never had a first-team All-American
before Clayton, who helped the Gators climb as high as No. 2 in the
Top 25 this season. He's also their first All-American since 2007,
when second-teamer Joakim Noah and third-team choice Al Horford led
the Gators to their second consecutive national championship.
Perhaps the versatile Clayton will be able to lead Florida back to
the top in March Madness.
“Whatever path, I like my guys,” he said. “Me and my guys against
whoever.”
Second team
JT Toppin transferred from New Mexico to Texas Tech, John Tonje from
Missouri to Wisconsin and PJ Haggerty from Tulsa to Memphis, and all
took advantage of a change in scenery to have breakout seasons and
earn second-team All-America honors.
The trio was joined on the second team by Kam Jones of Marquette and
RJ Luis Jr. of St. John's.
Third team
Hunter Dickinson of Kansas and fellow big man Ryan Kalkbrenner of
Creighton were third-team picks, making it three straight years that
each appeared on an All-America team. Both were honorable mention
two years ago, while Dickinson was a second-team pick and
Kalkbrenner honorable mention again last season.
They were joined on the third team by Zakai Zeigler of Tennessee,
Eric Dixon of Villanova and Houston's LJ Cryer, who was the Big 12
player of the year and an honorable mention All-America pick last
season.
Honorable mention
Chaz Lanier of Tennessee and Trey Kaufman-Renn of Purdue were among
the next 10 (including ties) in voting who earned honorable mention
recognition. Other honorable mentions included Donovan Dent of New
Mexico, Drake's Bennett Stirtz and Chucky Hepburn of Louisville.
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