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The 15 most impactful players to know for the 2023 NCAA Tournament

On3 imageby:Jamie Shaw03/13/23

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Purdue's Zach Edey
Purdue's Zach Edey and Purdue earned a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament (Photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

March Madness is here, the brackets are complete, and we are now just in wait mode until the games tip-off. As expected, the NCAA Tournament’s field of teams is loaded with talented players. We have future pros, conference players of the year, and players who are in the middle of incredible hot streaks.

Who should you be watching? Here is a list of the 15 most impactful players to know for the 2023 NCAA Tournament.

Read NCAA Tournament snubs, sleepers, and storylines

1. Zach Edey (Purdue)

Class: Junior
Height/weight: 7-4/295
From: Toronto, Ontario

2022-23 stats: 22.3 points, 12.8 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, 60.6% FG

Zach Edey is the Big Ten Player of the Year and on the Big Ten All-Defense Team.

2. Trayce Jackson-Davis (Indiana)

Class: Senior
Height/weight: 6-10/245
From: Greenwood, Indiana

2022-23 stats: 20.8 points, 10.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 2.7 blocks, 57.8% FG

Trayce Jackson-Davis is first-team All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Defense this season.

3. Azuolas Tubelis (Arizona)

Class: Junior
Height/weight: 6-11/245
From: Vilnius, Lithuania

2022-23 stats: 19.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.1 steals, 57.5% FG

Azuolas Tubelis is first-team All-Pac 12 this season.

4. Jalen Wilson (Kansas)

Class: Senior
Height/weight: 6-8/225
From: Denton, Texas

2022-23 stats: 20.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steals, 33.8% FG

Jalen Wilson is the Big 12 Player of the Year.

5. Marcus Sasser (Houston)

Class: Senior
Height/weight:6-1/190
From: Red Oak, Texas

2022-23 stats: 17.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.7 steals, 38.3% 3P

Marcus Sasser is the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

6. Brandon Miller (Alabama)

Class: Freshman
Height/weight: 6-9/200
From: Antioch, Tennessee

2022-23 stats: 19.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 40.1% 3P

Brandon Miller is the SEC Player of the Year, the SEC Tournament MVP, and the SEC Rookie of the Year.

7. Jaime Jaquez (UCLA)

Class: Senior
Height/weight: 6-6/220
From: Camarillo, California

2022-23 stats: 17.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.4 steals, 47.4% FG

Jaime Jaquez is the Pac-12 Player of the Year.

8. Oscar Tshiebwe (Kentucky)

Class: Senior
Height/weight:
From: Democratic Republic of Congo

2022-23 stats: 16.5 points, 13.1 rebounds, 1.0 blocks, 56.3% FG

Oscar Tshiebwe is first-team All-SEC and the reigning National Player of the Year.

9. Kris Murray (Iowa)

Class: Junior
Height/weight: 6-8/215
From: Cedar Rapids, Iowa

2022-23 stats: 20.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 48.4% FG

Kris Murray is first-team All-Big Ten.

10. Kendric Davis (Memphis)

Class: Senior
Height/weight: 5-11/180
From: Houston, Texas

2022-23 stats: 22.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2.0 steals, 34.6% 3P

Kendric Davis is first-team All-AAC and the conference’s all-time leader in points and assists.

11. Drew Timme (Gonzaga)

Class: Senior
Height/weight: 6-10/235
From: Richardson, Texas

2022-23 stats: 20.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 62.4% FG

Drew Timme is WCC Player of the Year and the WCC Tournament MVP.

12. Kyle Filipowski (Duke)

Class: Freshman
Height/weight: 7-0/235
From: Westtown, New York

2022-23 stats: 15.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 44.6% FG

Kyle Filipowski is the ACC Rookie of the Year.

13. Tyler Kolek (Marquette)

Class: Junior
Height/weight: 6-3/185
From: Cumberland, Rhode Island

2022-23 stats: 13.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 1.8 steals, 39.4% 3P

Tyler Kolek is the Big East Player of the Year.

14. Keyontae Johnson (Kansas State)

Class: Senior
Height/weight: 6-6/230
From: Norfolk, Virginia

2022-23 stats: 17.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.1 steals, 51.9% FG

Keyontae Johnson is first-team All-Big 12

15. Isaiah Wong (Miami)

Class: Junior
Height/weight: 6-3/180
From: Piscataway, New Jersey

2022-23 stats: 16.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.2 steals, 37.8% 3P

Isaiah Wong is the ACC Player of the Year.