With March Madness in full swing, the college basketball world is buzzing with excitement, and not just on the court. Fans are riveted by the high-stakes drama of the Sweet Sixteen, while the card market is also in a full frenzy, riding the wave of college basketball’s most thrilling moments. As young prospects dart and dash across the court, scouts are stealthily observing from the shadows, and fans are glued to screens, perhaps with a mouse click away from snapping up the next big thing in sports card collectibles.
One name reverberating from locker rooms to living rooms is Cooper Flagg of Duke. The freshman prodigy, standing tall at 6’8″, has become an emblem of promise and potential. He’s dominating not just the defenses of opposing teams but also the headlines and hearts of collectors. Known as the “anointed one,” Flagg is the future No. 1 overall pick—according to those with a knowing eye—and his presence in the tournament has his card prices soaring higher than a last-minute three-pointer at the buzzer. Take, for example, his 2024 Topps Chrome McDonald’s All-American Red Refractor Auto /5 PSA 10 card, which sold for $11,000 on March 25, up from $9,500 just two days prior. Flagg hasn’t even played a single NBA game, yet his cards circulate as if they belonged in a Hall of Fame display.
But Flagg is not the only player sending shockwaves through the card caper. Derik Queen of Maryland turned heads with a jaw-dropping buzzer-beater, propelling Maryland into the Sweet Sixteen. One flick of his wrist turned the tides of the game—and collectors took notice. The moment has been immortalized on a Bowman U Now card, joining a lineage of his celebrated performances. Queen’s notoriety began with a 22-point, 20-rebound spectacle, with his November 2024 Bowman U Now 1/1 Superfractor card going for a cool $599. Now, with fresh spotlight shining bright, his newest card drop—autos numbered to 10, 5, and the elusive 1—tempt collectors with potential treasure troves.
Further lighting up scoreboards and card collections is Kon Knueppel, another Duke dazzler. Known for his sharpshooting skills, Knueppel is surging quietly yet effectively both on draft boards and in the card market. His standout 25-point performance against Miami earned him the honor of a Bowman U Now card treatment, selling for $230 on March 19. This marks a significant feat for a mid-to-late lottery prospect. With accolades such as ACC Tournament MVP, Knueppel’s card story still unwinds with promising chapters.
Meanwhile, Carter Bryant of Arizona floats under the upper air of the card market, waiting for his chance to jump. The 6’8″ wing with defensive tenacity and perimeter flexibility has prices that currently hover in the chillier price brackets. Though his base Prizm Draft Picks flirt with modest dollars, rarer versions like his /25 auto and a Black Gold /5 inch toward higher values. But with Arizona ready to clash with Duke, a breakout performance could catapult his card prestige into a new dimension of demand.
Then there’s Isaiah Demonte Evans from Duke, a player who’s yet to have his watershed moment but whose potential keeps collectors interested. Ranked No. 15 in his recruiting class, Evans has shown only glimpses with narrow minutes on the court. However, his 2024 Topps McDonald’s All-American Drive-Thru Superfractor 1/1 card fetching just shy of $200 and Jersey Patch Auto /5 at $275 signal a collector base betting on a future boom if Evans bursts from the bench with panache.
This Sweet Sixteen weekend is a whirlwind of potential, not just on hardwood courts but also in card collections across the nation. The spectacle is rife with national eyeballs, dreams of NBA stardom, and a red-hot market for sports cards, bubbling with anticipation for a new generation of hoops heroes. It’s a rare convergence that offers enthusiastic collectors and fans alike the chance to chase after stars before they become celestial bodies in the sporting cosmos. Whether you’re watching the games through nervous fingers or investing with the fervor of a true believer, this moment in March Madness is a collage of heart-stopping plays and heart-racing card trading.
