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WorldMarch 18, 2025

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.

DAVE SKRETTA, Associated Press
Auburn forward/center Johni Broome (4) celebrates by getting the crowd pumped during the second half an NCAA college basketball game against Georgia, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Julie Bennett)
Auburn forward/center Johni Broome (4) celebrates by getting the crowd pumped during the second half an NCAA college basketball game against Georgia, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Julie Bennett)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Duke's Cooper Flagg (2) reacts after a play during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Wake Forest in Durham, N.C., Monday, March 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
Duke's Cooper Flagg (2) reacts after a play during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Wake Forest in Durham, N.C., Monday, March 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Purdue guard Braden Smith (3) passes the ball around Southern California forward Rashaun Agee, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the second round of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Purdue guard Braden Smith (3) passes the ball around Southern California forward Rashaun Agee, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the second round of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Alabama guard Mark Sears (1) drives the baseline around Auburn center Dylan Cardwell (44) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Alabama guard Mark Sears (1) drives the baseline around Auburn center Dylan Cardwell (44) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Florida head coach Todd Golden congratulates Florida guards Walter Clayton Jr., center, and Will Richard (5) near the end of the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Mississippi, Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood)
Florida head coach Todd Golden congratulates Florida guards Walter Clayton Jr., center, and Will Richard (5) near the end of the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Mississippi, Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Texas Tech forward JT Toppin (15) attempts to shoot over Arizona State center Shawn Phillips Jr. (9) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Justin Rex)
Texas Tech forward JT Toppin (15) attempts to shoot over Arizona State center Shawn Phillips Jr. (9) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Justin Rex)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wisconsin guard John Tonje (9) drives on Northwestern center Matthew Nicholson (34) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the second round of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Wisconsin guard John Tonje (9) drives on Northwestern center Matthew Nicholson (34) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the second round of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Memphis guard PJ Haggerty (4) looks to shoot while defended by Florida Atlantic guard Leland Walker (2) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Nikki Boertman)
Memphis guard PJ Haggerty (4) looks to shoot while defended by Florida Atlantic guard Leland Walker (2) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Nikki Boertman)ASSOCIATED PRESS
St. John's's RJ Luis Jr. gets past Marquette's David Joplin during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
St. John's's RJ Luis Jr. gets past Marquette's David Joplin during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Marquette's Kam Jones tries to get past St. John's's Zuby Ejiofor during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Mar. 8, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Marquette's Kam Jones tries to get past St. John's's Zuby Ejiofor during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Mar. 8, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner, right, defends DePaul's CJ Gunn (11) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Big East basketball tournament Thursday, March 13, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner, right, defends DePaul's CJ Gunn (11) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Big East basketball tournament Thursday, March 13, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler (5) drives the lane against Texas A&M guard Zhuric Phelps (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler (5) drives the lane against Texas A&M guard Zhuric Phelps (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Seton Hall's Dylan Addae-Wusu, left, and Prince Aligbe, right, fights for control of the ball with Villanova's Eric Dixon, center, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Big East basketball tournament Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Seton Hall's Dylan Addae-Wusu, left, and Prince Aligbe, right, fights for control of the ball with Villanova's Eric Dixon, center, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Big East basketball tournament Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Houston's L.J. Cryer (4) passes the ball around Kansas' Zeke Mayo (5) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, March 3, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Houston's L.J. Cryer (4) passes the ball around Kansas' Zeke Mayo (5) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, March 3, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kansas' Hunter Dickinson (1) dunks during overtime of an NCAA college basketball game against UCF in the second round of the Big 12 Conference tournament, Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas' Hunter Dickinson (1) dunks during overtime of an NCAA college basketball game against UCF in the second round of the Big 12 Conference tournament, Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)ASSOCIATED PRESS

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.”

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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.

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.

___

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

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