How Did Wizards Players Fare in Their March Madness Runs?

It’s that time of year.

One of the world’s most beloved tournaments is in the midst of breaking hearts and writing life stories.

Unfortunately, in Washington’s current state, the Wizards won’t be playing in a tournament this season. Even so, reminiscing on college days is only natural — and the Wizards players’ college highlights give plenty of reason to.

Here is how the District’s best looked when they put on their dancing shoes.

Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis hasn’t even suited up in Wizards colors yet. But his time in Kentucky blue is hard to forget.

The Brow capped off a historic regular season, in which he won the Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year Award and led the Wildcats to 30 wins, with a storied March Madness run. He averaged 14.2 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 4.6 blocks per game in the tournament. 

His strongest offensive performance came in the Final Four against the Louisville Cardinals, where he dropped 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting. 

But Davis wasn’t on the court to put the ball in the basket —  he was there to be a disruptor on defense.

That’s exactly what he did in the title game. 

Davis tallied a ridiculous six blocks, three steals and 12 defensive rebounds en route to cutting down the championship nets.

Trae Young

Trae Young’s one-year Oklahoma Sooners tenure sent waves throughout the nation.

The freshman led the country in points and assists during the regular season, recording 27.1 points and 8.7 assists per game. With his trademark logo threes and flashy passes, Young was must-see TV entering the tournament.

That made the Sooners’ fall in the first round that much more deflating.

Oklahoma was overwhelmed by the Rhode Island Rams in an 83-78 overtime loss that saw them leave the ballroom early.

The Sooners allowed Rhode Island to shoot 39% from three-point range and turned the ball over 14 times.

Young had himself an impressive night that ultimately wasn’t enough. He scored 28 points and dished out seven assists on 50 percent shooting. 

Young and the Sooners’ round of 64 exit brought an end to his historic season, but he still played his game.

Will Riley

Will Riley’s lone tournament run as an Illinois Fighting Illini was an up-and-down affair.

After playing a pivotal role in landing his team the sixth seed in the Midwest bracket, Riley and the Illini comfortably put away Xavier 86-73. Illinois won the first-round matchup by virtue of heavy interior defense and outrebounded the Musketeers by 19.

Riley was their leading scorer with 22 points and two blocks on a hot 8-12 shooting. He accounted for three of Illinois’ 12 triples, but also showcased his slashing skills, scoring on drives to the rim. 

His second-round performance against Kentucky was a different story.

In 26 minutes, he logged just five points, as he shot 1-of-7 from the floor and committed three turnovers.

Though they battled back, once down 16, the Illini lost to the Wildcats 84-75. They shot a cold 28 percent from three, and turnovers cost them 14 possessions.

Riley’s last game dancing was a stark difference from the first one.

Tre Johnson

Tre Johnson’s time in the ballroom lasted just one night.

The 18-16 Texas Longhorns snuck their way into the First Four after an uninspiring stretch of conference play to end the regular season.

To break their way into the 64-team playoff, the Longhorns faced 22-10 Xavier, but came up short in the clutch and lost 86-80.

Johnson’s game-leading 23-point effort was spoiled by the Musketeers’ fiery shooting, as they buried 12 longballs on a 48 percent clip. 

The freshman made half of Texas’s total threes, draining four. Johnson, alongside the Longhorns, had his season put to an end in a hostile play-in environment.

JuJu Reese

The newest Wizard has one of the longest March Madness resumes on the roster.

Playing at Maryland for four years, Julain ‘JuJu’ Reese and the Terrapins competed in the tournament twice during his collegiate career. 

In 2023, his first year dancing, Reese and the Terps survived West Virginia 67-65 before losing to Alabama 73-51. For the two-contest stretch, he averaged 15.5 points, six rebounds, and two blocks per game.

In 2025, the Terps made it to the Sweet 16 for the first time in nine years, and while fellow Maryland native Derik Queen was the star, Reese continued with the same reliable production. He averaged 15 points and 9.3 rebounds per game while shooting at a 58.1% clip. 

For his final game wearing red and gold, he tallied 12 points and two steals, losing to the eventual national champions, Florida, 87-71.