The perennial rush of March Madness is upon us, plunging legions of basketball fans into a frenzy that can only be likened to a high-stakes game of musical chairs—with no one wanting to be caught sitting idle. As 16 teams charge onward toward glory, the fervor isn’t isolated to sports arenas; the cardboard cosmos has erupted with fans and collectors alike, chasing after elusive cards of college hoops’ next superstars like they’re golden tickets to Willy Wonka’s factory.
This is that magical time of year when buzzer-beaters become the currency of legends and social media highlight reels explode with improbable feats of athleticism. Amidst this pandemonium are scouts with eagle eyes, lurking in the bleachers and ready with their notepads to translate those jaw-dropping performances into future draft picks. Meanwhile, collectors sit in front of their computer screens as the modern-day alchemists trying to turn rookie cards into NBA Hall of Fame treasure.
Leading this youthful brigade is Cooper Flagg from Duke University. It’s as though young Cooper had a preordained script to follow, one that included setting defenses ablaze and leaving collectors smitten with his every play. Standing at 6’8″, the freshman miracle-worker has the spotlight fixed on him as the possible numero uno in the upcoming NBA Draft. With Duke still in the championship chase, who can blame investors for pulling their wallets out like eager gamblers at a poker table? Just days ago, a gem-like 2024 Topps Chrome McDonald’s All-American Red Refractor Auto /5 rated a pristine PSA 10 swapped owners for a tidy $11,000, up from the $9,500 it fetched earlier. And to think, it wasn’t even worn in an NBA game, yet his cards are priced as if LeBron himself had hand-signed them.
Not to be overshadowed, Derik Queen from Maryland is captivating hearts and wallets alike with his recent buzzer-beater that carried Maryland into the Sweet Sixteen. This man moves ice-cool, hitting one of the tournament’s most dramatic shots. Enter Topps, fast on the heels of Queen’s heroics, dangling the Bowman U Now card like candy to enthusiasts. Queen’s earlier November 2024 Bowman U Now card highlighting a beastly 22-point, 20-rebound night already commanded $599 for its 1/1 Superfractor version. With attention now riveted on him, his card collection is only expanding, featuring prized options numbered to 10, 5, and the highly sought-after 1.
Over at Duke, another sharp-shooter, Kon Knueppel, is seemingly engineering his quiet ascent not just on draft boards but in the collector’s haven as well. Following a scorching 25-point performance against Miami, Kon joined the Bowman U Now fraternity, sending one card on a journey of value up to $230. That’s not too shabby for a guy pegged for a mid-to-late first-round pick. Each card, whether celebrating his glorious ACC Tournament MVP title or another accolade, only augments his growing allure.
On Arizona’s side, Carter Bryant might be flying somewhat under the radar, but rest assured, he’s no less armed for the NBA’s battlefield. His trade cards aren’t exactly swooning in riches—yet. But with twinkling potential measured at 6’8″ with the right defensive reflexes, it’s merely a matter of showing up on the big stage at the Duke-Arizona face-off. Base Prizm Draft Picks sit patiently at a dollar, while other editions climb toward $102.50. Suffice it to say, if Bryant wows against Duke, those numbers could catch a mighty gust.
Then there’s the enigmatic Isaiah Demonte Evans, another Duke hope, whose defining moment hasn’t arrived just yet. His spot on the bench most tournament often goes unnoticed, but die-hard collectors are still sniffing out any flash of brilliance. Evans’ 2024 Topps McDonald’s All-American Drive-Thru Superfractor 1/1 already found a home for just shy of $200, and a Jersey Patch Auto sold for $275—modest, indeed, but the floor is ready to transform into a launchpad if Evans struts his stuff on the court.
As the Sweet Sixteen rolls on, the box office isn’t just wrangling tickets and popcorn; it’s grappling with the explosive demand for these young gladiators’ memorabilia. March Madness reads like a Shakespearean play—complete with drama, tragedy, and comedy, drawing global gazes and catalyzing market mayhem. If you’re grappling for a golden nugget from this broad shaft of talent, this could well be the weekend to scoop up a nascent star before the next rush tilts the scale.
