NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player

Basketball award

The Most Outstanding Player is awarded to one player after the conclusion of the championship game of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament and NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament. Accredited media members at the championship game vote on the award.

The player that wins the award is usually a member of the championship team. Ten men and one woman have won the award despite not winning the championship. The last man to do so was Akeem Olajuwon in 1983 and Dawn Staley was the only woman to do so when she won the award in 1991.

Six men and five women have won the award multiple times. Lew Alcindor won the men’s award three times from 1967 to 1969 and Breanna Stewart won the women’s award four times from 2013 to 2016.

One person has vacated the award. In 1971, Howard Porter won the award despite Villanova losing to UCLA in the championship game. Villanova later vacated their entire season. One other person, Luke Hancock, had his MOP award vacated when the NCAA vacated Louisville's 2013 national championship, but the NCAA later restored to the award as part of a settlement in a lawsuit with him due to him not being involved in the scandal.

In 1944, Arnie Ferrin of Utah was the first freshman to win the award.[1]

## Past winners[edit]

An asterisk (*) next to a player's name indicates they did not play for the championship team.

### NCAA Men's Division I Most Outstanding Player[edit]

* 1939 – Jimmy Hull, Ohio State*
* 1940 – Marvin Huffman, Indiana
* 1941 – John Kotz, Wisconsin
* 1942 – Howie Dallmar, Stanford
* 1943 – Ken Sailors, Wyoming
* 1944 – Arnie Ferrin, Utah
* 1945 – Bob Kurland, Oklahoma A&M
* 1946 – Bob Kurland, Oklahoma A&M
* 1947 – George Kaftan, Holy Cross
* 1948 – Alex Groza, Kentucky
* 1949 – Alex Groza, Kentucky
* 1950 – Irwin Dambrot, CCNY
* 1951 – Bill Spivey, Kentucky
* 1952 – Clyde Lovellette, Kansas
* 1953 – B. H. Born, Kansas*
* 1954 – Tom Gola, La Salle
* 1955 – Bill Russell, San Francisco
* 1956 – Hal Lear, Temple*
* 1957 – Wilt Chamberlain, Kansas*
* 1958 – Elgin Baylor, Seattle*
* 1959 – Jerry West, West Virginia*
* 1960 – Jerry Lucas, Ohio State
* 1961 – Jerry Lucas, Ohio State*
* 1962 – Paul Hogue, Cincinnati
* 1963 – Art Heyman, Duke*
* 1964 – Walt Hazzard, UCLA
* 1965 – Bill Bradley, Princeton*
* 1966 – Jerry Chambers, Utah*
* 1967 – Lew Alcindor, UCLA
* 1968 – Lew Alcindor, UCLA
* 1969 – Lew Alcindor, UCLA
* 1970 – Sidney Wicks, UCLA
* 1971 – Vacated[a]
* 1972 – Bill Walton, UCLA
* 1973 – Bill Walton, UCLA
* 1974 – David Thompson, NC State
* 1975 – Richard Washington, UCLA
* 1976 – Kent Benson, Indiana
* 1977 – Butch Lee, Marquette
* 1978 – Jack Givens, Kentucky
* 1979 – Earvin Johnson, Michigan State
* 1980 – Darrell Griffith, Louisville
* 1981 – Isiah Thomas, Indiana
* 1982 – James Worthy, North Carolina
* 1983 – Akeem Olajuwon, Houston*
* 1984 – Patrick Ewing, Georgetown
* 1985 – Ed Pinckney, Villanova
* 1986 – Pervis Ellison, Louisville
* 1987 – Keith Smart, Indiana
* 1988 – Danny Manning, Kansas
* 1989 – Glen Rice, Michigan
* 1990 – Anderson Hunt, UNLV
* 1991 – Christian Laettner, Duke
* 1992 – Bobby Hurley, Duke
* 1993 – Donald Williams, North Carolina
* 1994 – Corliss Williamson, Arkansas
* 1995 – Ed O'Bannon, UCLA
* 1996 – Tony Delk, Kentucky
* 1997 – Miles Simon, Arizona
* 1998 – Jeff Sheppard, Kentucky
* 1999 – Richard Hamilton, Connecticut
* 2000 – Mateen Cleaves, Michigan State
* 2001 – Shane Battier, Duke
* 2002 – Juan Dixon, Maryland
* 2003 – Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse
* 2004 – Emeka Okafor, Connecticut
* 2005 – Sean May, North Carolina
* 2006 – Joakim Noah, Florida
* 2007 – Corey Brewer, Florida
* 2008 – Mario Chalmers, Kansas
* 2009 – Wayne Ellington, North Carolina
* 2010 – Kyle Singler, Duke
* 2011 – Kemba Walker, Connecticut
* 2012 – Anthony Davis, Kentucky
* 2013 – Luke Hancock, Louisville[b]
* 2014 – Shabazz Napier, Connecticut
* 2015 – Tyus Jones, Duke
* 2016 – Ryan Arcidiacono, Villanova
* 2017 – Joel Berry II, North Carolina
* 2018 – Donte DiVincenzo, Villanova
* 2019 – Kyle Guy, Virginia
* 2020 – None[c]
* 2021 – Jared Butler, Baylor
* 2022 – Ochai Agbaji, Kansas
* 2023 – Adama Sanogo, Connecticut

### NCAA women's Division I Most Outstanding Player[edit]

* 1982 – Janice Lawrence, Louisiana Tech
* 1983 – Cheryl Miller, Southern California
* 1984 – Cheryl Miller, Southern California
* 1985 – Tracy Claxton, Old Dominion
* 1986 – Clarissa Davis, Texas
* 1987 – Tonya Edwards, Tennessee
* 1988 – Erica Westbrooks, Louisiana Tech
* 1989 – Bridgette Gordon, Tennessee
* 1990 – Jennifer Azzi, Stanford
* 1991 – Dawn Staley, Virginia*
* 1992 – Molly Goodenbour, Stanford
* 1993 – Sheryl Swoopes, Texas Tech
* 1994 – Charlotte Smith, North Carolina
* 1995 – Rebecca Lobo, Connecticut
* 1996 – Michelle M. Marciniak, Tennessee
* 1997 – Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee
* 1998 – Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee
* 1999 – Ukari Figgs, Purdue
* 2000 – Shea Ralph, Connecticut
* 2001 – Ruth Riley, Notre Dame
* 2002 – Swin Cash, Connecticut
* 2003 – Diana Taurasi, Connecticut
* 2004 – Diana Taurasi, Connecticut
* 2005 – Sophia Young, Baylor
* 2006 – Laura Harper, Maryland
* 2007 – Candace Parker, Tennessee
* 2008 – Candace Parker, Tennessee
* 2009 – Tina Charles, Connecticut
* 2010 – Maya Moore, Connecticut
* 2011 – Danielle Adams, Texas A&M
* 2012 – Brittney Griner, Baylor
* 2013 – Breanna Stewart, Connecticut
* 2014 – Breanna Stewart, Connecticut
* 2015 – Breanna Stewart, Connecticut
* 2016 – Breanna Stewart, Connecticut
* 2017 – A'ja Wilson, South Carolina
* 2018 – Arike Ogunbowale, Notre Dame
* 2019 – Chloe Jackson, Baylor
* 2020 – None[c]
* 2021 – Haley Jones, Stanford
* 2022 – Aliyah Boston, South Carolina
* 2023 – Angel Reese, LSU

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ Originally awarded to Howard Porter from Villanova, who was not on the championship team; however, he was later ruled ineligible, which resulted in the award being vacated.
2. ^ Louisville vacated their 2013 national championship due to improper benefits. As part of a lawsuit settlement, Hancock - who was not involved in the scandal - had his Most Outstanding Player award restored.
3. ^ a b The NCAA canceled all winter and spring championships due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

## References[edit]

1. ^ Facer, Dirk (February 9, 2012). "Utah's Arnie Ferrin to be inducted into Pac-12 Basketball Hall of Honor". Deseret News. Retrieved December 28, 2022.

## External links[edit]

* Final Four - Most Outstanding Player from Basketball.com
* NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Players History from InsideHoops.com
* NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Players: Where Are They Now? from LostLettermen.com

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NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player

* 1939: Hull
* 1940: Huffman
* 1941: Kotz
* 1942: Dallmar
* 1943: Sailors
* 1944: Ferrin
* 1945: Kurland
* 1946: Kurland
* 1947: Kaftan
* 1948: Groza
* 1949: Groza
* 1950: Dambrot
* 1951: Spivey
* 1952: Lovellette
* 1953: Born
* 1954: Gola
* 1955: Russell
* 1956: Lear
* 1957: Chamberlain
* 1958: Baylor
* 1959: West
* 1960: Lucas
* 1961: Lucas
* 1962: Hogue
* 1963: Heyman
* 1964: Hazzard
* 1965: Bradley
* 1966: Chambers
* 1967: Alcindor
* 1968: Alcindor
* 1969: Alcindor
* 1970: Wicks
* 1971: Porter *
* 1972: Walton
* 1973: Walton
* 1974: Thompson
* 1975: Washington
* 1976: Benson
* 1977: Lee
* 1978: Givens
* 1979: Johnson
* 1980: Griffith
* 1981: Thomas
* 1982: Worthy
* 1983: Olajuwon
* 1984: Ewing
* 1985: Pinckney
* 1986: Ellison
* 1987: Smart
* 1988: Manning
* 1989: Rice
* 1990: Hunt
* 1991: Laettner
* 1992: Hurley
* 1993: Williams
* 1994: Williamson
* 1995: O'Bannon
* 1996: Delk
* 1997: Simon
* 1998: Sheppard
* 1999: Hamilton
* 2000: Cleaves
* 2001: Battier
* 2002: Dixon
* 2003: Anthony
* 2004: Okafor
* 2005: May
* 2006: Noah
* 2007: Brewer
* 2008: Chalmers
* 2009: Ellington
* 2010: Singler
* 2011: Walker
* 2012: Davis
* 2013: Hancock
* 2014: Napier
* 2015: Jones
* 2016: Arcidiacono
* 2017: Berry
* 2018: DiVincenzo
* 2019: Guy
* 2020: None
* 2021: Butler
* 2022: Agbaji
* 2023: Sanogo

*Ruled ineligible after tournament

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* t
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NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player

* 1982: Lawrence
* 1983: Miller
* 1984: Miller
* 1985: Claxton
* 1986: Davis
* 1987: Edwards
* 1988: Westbrooks
* 1989: Gordon
* 1990: Azzi
* 1991: Staley
* 1992: Goodenbour
* 1993: Swoopes
* 1994: Smith
* 1995: Lobo
* 1996: Marciniak
* 1997: Holdsclaw
* 1998: Holdsclaw
* 1999: Figgs
* 2000: Ralph
* 2001: Riley
* 2002: Cash
* 2003: Taurasi
* 2004: Taurasi
* 2005: Young
* 2006: Harper
* 2007: Parker
* 2008: Parker
* 2009: Charles
* 2010: Moore
* 2011: Adams
* 2012: Griner
* 2013: Stewart
* 2014: Stewart
* 2015: Stewart
* 2016: Stewart
* 2017: Wilson
* 2018: Ogunbowale
* 2019: Jackson
* 2020: None
* 2021: Jones
* 2022: Boston
* 2023: Reese

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* t
* e

NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament

Tournaments|

* 1939
* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943
* 1944
* 1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* ~~2020~~
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Structure|

* Selection process
* Venues
* No. 1 seeds
* First Four
* Elite Eight
* Final Four
* National Championship Game

Champions & awards|

* Champions
* Most Outstanding Player

Media & culture|

* Blue bloods
* Bracketology
* Broadcasting
* Tournament
* Final Four
* Cutting down the nets
* March Madness pools
* "One Shining Moment"
* Retired numbers

Records & statistics|

* Team records
* Bids by school
* Consecutive appearances
* Final Four participants
* Final Four appearances by coach
* Overall records
* Upsets

See also: Division I Women's Tournament, Division II Tournament, Division III Tournament

* v
* t
* e

NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament

Tournaments|

| AIAW|

* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982

|

NCAA|

* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* ~~2020~~
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

Structure|

* Selection process
* No. 1 seeds
* First Four
* Elite Eight
* Final Four
* National Championship Game

Champions & awards|

* Champions
* Most Outstanding Player

Media|

* Broadcasters

Records & statistics|

* Appearances
* Upsets
* Final Four appearances by coach
* Final Four appearances by school

* v
* t
* e

U.S. men's college basketball awards

* National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame
* Women's college basketball awards

National players of the year|

* Naismith
* Wooden
* AP
* NABC
* Oscar Robertson
* Sporting News

* Discontinued – Helms
* UPI
* Adolph Rupp

Player awards|

* Academic All-America of the Year
* All-Americans (by year)
* Bob Cousy Award
* Jerry West Award
* Julius Erving Award
* Karl Malone Award
* Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award
* Haggerty Award
* Lefty Driesell Award
* Lou Henson Award
* Lute Olson Award
* Pete Newell Big Man Award
* NABC Defensive Player of the Year
* NABC Freshman of the Year
* Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award
* NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
* Robert V. Geasey Trophy
* USBWA National Freshman of the Year

* On hiatus – Senior CLASS Award

* Discontinued – Chip Hilton Award
* Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award

Conference players of the year|

* A-10
* ACC
* America East
* American
* ASUN
* Big 12
* Big East
* Big Sky
* Big South
* Big Ten
* Big West
* CAA
* C-USA
* Horizon
* Ivy
* MAAC
* MAC
* MEAC
* MVC
* Mountain West
* NEC
* OVC
* Pac-12
* Patriot
* SEC
* SoCon
* Southland
* Summit
* Sun Belt
* SWAC
* WCC
* WAC

* Discontinued – American South
* American West
* Big Eight
* East Coast
* Great Midwest
* Great West
* Gulf Star
* Metro
* Midwestern
* Southwest

Head coach awards|

* Naismith Coach of the Year
* AP Coach of the Year
* Ben Jobe Award
* Henry Iba Award
* Hugh Durham Award
* Jim Phelan Award
* Legends of Coaching
* NABC Coach of the Year
* Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award
* Sporting News Coach of the Year

* Discontinued – Adolph Rupp Cup
* Clair Bee Award
* UPI Coach of the Year

Conference coaches of the year|

* ACC
* American
* ASUN
* Big East
* Big Ten
* Big 12
* Big West
* CAA
* MAAC
* MVC
* NEC
* Pac-12

Division awards|

* NABC Players of the Year – Division I
* Division II
* Division III
* NAIA
* Junior College
NAIA Tournament MVP
* Clarence Gaines Award
* Bevo Francis Award

Other awards|

* Howell Trophy
* Perry Wallace Most Courageous Award
* Coach Wooden "Keys to Life" Award

* v
* t
* e

U.S. women's college basketball awards

* Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
* Men's college basketball awards

National players of the year|

* Naismith Trophy
* Wooden Award
* Wade Trophy
* AP Player of the Year

* Ann Meyers Drysdale Player of the Year
* WBCA Player of the Year
* Honda Sports Award

Individual awards|

* All-Americans (by year)
* USBWA National Freshman of the Year
* Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award
* WBCA Defensive Player of the Year
* WBCA Freshman of the Year
* NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
* Academic All-America of the Year

* Ann Meyers Drysdale Award
* Lisa Leslie Award
* Nancy Lieberman Award
* Katrina McClain Award
* Cheryl Miller Award
* Dawn Staley Award

* On hiatus – Senior CLASS Award

* Discontinued – Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award

Conference players of the year|

* ACC
* American
* Big 12
* Big East
* Big Ten
* Mountain West
* NEC
* Pac-12
* SEC
* WCC

Head coach awards|

* Naismith Coach of the Year
* Legends of Coaching
* AP Coach of the Year
* USBWA Coach of the Year
* WBCA Coach of the Year

* Carol Eckman Award
* Kay Yow Award
* Maggie Dixon Award

Conference coaches of the year|

* Big Ten
* Big West
* NEC

Other awards|

* Gillom Trophy
* Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award

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