Final Four 2025: How Duke, Florida, Auburn & Houston Created NCAA Championship-Caliber Rosters

The four teams competing in this weekend’s Final Four 2025 in San Antonio exemplify the evolving landscape of college basketball. While traditional powerhouses like Duke have assembled their rosters with elite recruits such as Cooper Flagg, Tyrese Proctor, and Khaman Maluach, other teams like Florida have strategically utilized lesser-known players to build a squad that is just two victories away from clinching the championship.

Since Jon Scheyer took the helm of Duke from Mike Krzyzewski in 2022, he has upheld the program’s strong recruiting legacy, which has kept the Blue Devils among the elite in college basketball for years. Flagg led the charge for the top-ranked recruiting class in the 2024 cycle, while Duke’s 2023 class ranked just behind Kentucky.

In contrast, Houston’s recruiting efforts yielded the 22nd and 49th-ranked classes in the 2023 and 2024 cycles, respectively. The Cougars returned four starters from a team that captured the Big 12 title in the 2023-24 season and brought in Oklahoma transfer Milos Uzan to fill the shoes of All-American guard Jamal Shead. Uzan has quickly become a standout player and a potential NBA Draft prospect.

Another notable player is Johni Broome, a candidate for National Player of the Year. After transferring from Morehead State to Auburn following the 2021-22 season, Broome played a crucial role in leading the Tigers to their second-ever Final Four appearance with a victory over No. 2 seed Michigan State. Auburn boasts one of the most seasoned and oldest rosters in college basketball.

How Duke Build Its Roster

The foundation of Duke’s current roster is built upon one of the most impressive high school recruiting classes in recent history. Having Flagg as a cornerstone player is an advantage that other teams envy. The key to a successful postseason run lies in surrounding Flagg with the right talent. The Blue Devils faced a challenge when two starters from last season’s Elite Eight team, Mark Mitchell and Jeremy Roach, entered the transfer portal, along with other standout members of the 2023 recruiting class.

In the 2024 class, five players are making significant contributions: Flagg, Maluach, Kon Knueppel, Patrick Ngongba II, and Isaiah Evans. Interestingly, the composition of this Duke team mirrors that of their 2015 championship squad, which featured three freshmen and two experienced players—exactly the mix present in the 2024-25 lineup. Proctor, a three-year starter, and Tulane transfer Sion James, who has quickly become a vital player in his debut season, complete the tallest starting lineup in the nation.

The objective was to enhance the team’s size, athleticism, and height, which they achieved by bringing in James, along with Purdue forward Mason Gillis and Syracuse forward Maliq Brown. Notably, Gillis made history as the first player to reach the Final Four in consecutive years with different teams. With Flagg on the roster, Duke is a formidable contender, and the strategic roster construction by Scheyer and his staff has positioned the Blue Devils as the team to beat in San Antonio.

Recruits

Player	Year	247 ratings	247 rankings
Cooper Flagg	2024	5-Star | 100 Rating	No. 1 Overall | No. 1 PF
Khaman Maluach	2024	5-Star | 99 Rating	No. 4 Overall | No. 1 C
Isaiah Evans	2024	5-Star | 98 Rating	No. 13 Overall | No. 4 SF
Kon Knueppel	2024	5-Star | 98 Rating	No. 18 Overall | No. 5 SF
Tyrese Proctor	2022	5-Star | 98 Rating	No. 23 Overall | No. 3 PG
Patrick Ngongba II	2024	4-Star | 97 Rating	No. 21 Overall | No. 5 C
Caleb Foster	2023	4-Star | 96 Rating	No. 23 Overall | No. 4 CG

Transfers

Player	Year	Former school	247 ratings	247 rankings
Sion James	2024	Tulane	4-Star | 94 Rating	No. 61 Overall | No. 10 SG
Maliq Brown	2024	Syracuse	4-Star | 94 Rating	No. 66 Overall | No. 8 PF
Mason Gillis	2024	Purdue	4-Star | 93 Rating	No. 91 Overall | No. 18 SF

How Houston Build Its Roster

Kelvin Sampson, the head coach of Houston, is renowned for his ability to maximize the potential of his players. While the roster may not be filled with high-profile recruits, Sampson has strategically selected the right individuals. Following Shead’s departure to the NBA last offseason, Houston swiftly sought a new starter to complement the returning four players. This led to the addition of Uzan, who has emerged as one of the sport’s most underrated talents. Uzan boasts an impressive 44.5% shooting from beyond the arc, while his backcourt partner, L.J. Cryer, is hitting 41.5% of his three-point attempts. As a result, Houston currently holds the title for the best three-point shooting offense in the nation.

The other four returning starters from last season include Cryer, J’Wan Roberts, Emanuel Sharp, and Ja’Vier Francis. After starting 37 games last year, Francis has transitioned to a bench role, making way for Joseph Tugler. Cryer, who leads the team in scoring, is a former Baylor transfer who spent his initial three years in Waco. Sharp, Terrance Arceneaux, Francis, and Tugler are all homegrown talents who have dedicated their entire college careers to playing under Sampson. The hallmark of this team is its defensive prowess.

Recruits

Player	Year	247 ratings	247 rankings
Terrance Arceneaux	2022	4-Star | 97 Rating	No. 31 Overall | No. 10 SF
Joseph Tugler	2023	4-Star | 92 Rating	No. 69 Overall | No. 9 C
Ja’Vier Francis	2021	3-Star | 89 Rating	No. 144 Overall | No. 20 C
Emanuel Sharp	2021	3-Star | 89 Rating	No. 47 SG
J’Wan Roberts	2019	3-Star | 88 Rating	No. 225 Overall | No. 42 PF

Transfers

Player	Year	Former school	247 ratings	247 rankings
LJ Cryer	2023	Baylor	4-Star | 96 Rating	No. 6 Overall | No. 1 PG
Milos Uzan	2024	Oklahoma	4-Star | 94 Rating	No. 45 Overall | No. 12 PG
Mylik Wilson	2023	Texas Tech	Unranked

How Auburn Build Its Roster

Auburn has crafted a roster that boasts a wealth of experience in its starting lineup. Broome brings a remarkable 162 career starts to the table. Chad Baker-Mazara, who played for San Diego State in the 2021-22 season, has participated in 101 games. Former Georgia Tech standout Miles Kelly has made his mark in 132 games, with 95 of those being starts, while Denver Jones joined Auburn in 2023 after serving as a starter at FIU. The most seasoned homegrown talent on this roster is the formidable Dylan Caldwell, who has played in 165 games, all with Auburn.

Chris Moore, Tahaad Pettiford, and Chaney Johnson, three important reserves, have all spent their whole careers with the Tigers. Broome’s development into one of the sport’s top players was the first step toward success. The most valuable player on this roster is Pettiford, a previously highly regarded recruit from the 2024 recruiting cycle. Coach Bruce Pearl’s ability to combine experience with the team’s youth is demonstrated by the fact that a player of Pettiford’s skill is coming off the bench.

Recruits

Player	Year	247 ratings	247 rankings
Tahaad Pettiford	2024	4-Star | 96 Rating	No. 29 Overall | No. 2 PG
Chris Moore	2020	4-Star | 90 Rating	No. 140 Overall | No. 28 PF
Dylan Cardwell	2020	3-Star | 89 Rating	No. 36 C

Transfers

Player	Year	Former school	247 ratings	247 rankings
Miles Kelly	2024	Georgia Tech	4-Star | 94 Rating	No. 62 Overall | No. 11 SG
Denver Jones	2023	FIU	4-Star | 93 Rating	No. 41 Overall | No. 7 SG
Johni Broome	2022	Morehead State	4-Star | 92 Rating	No. 13 Overall | No. 2 C
Chad Baker-Mazara	2023	San Diego State	Unranked
Chaney Johnson	2023	Alabama-Huntsville	Unranked

How Florida Build Its Roster

At the forefront of Florida’s roster is All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr. Previously a standout at the mid-major level under coach Rick Pitino at Iona, Clayton has since emerged as one of the premier guards in college basketball. Joining him in the backcourt is Alijah Martin, who is in his final season of eligibility with the Gators after a successful stint at mid-major FAU. Notably, Martin is set to become the first player in college basketball history to start in the Final Four with two different teams.

The starting lineup for Florida is completed by Will Richard, Alex Condon, and Rueben Chinyelu. Richard began his collegiate journey at Belmont before transferring to Florida in 2022, while Chinyelu made the switch last offseason after a year at Washington State. Condon and Thomas Haugh were part of Florida’s 2023 high school recruiting class. Additionally, Micah Handlogten, a vital component of one of the nation’s top frontcourts, transferred after one season at Marshall. Florida’s coach, Todd Golden, has successfully tapped into the potential of players who weren’t highly recruited, which has propelled the Gators from a first-round exit to the Final Four in just his third season.