SAN ANTONIO – The NABC on Tuesday announced the recipients of its top Division I coach and player awards from the 2024-25 season, as voted on by NABC-member coaches across NCAA Division I.
Auburn’s Bruce Pearl was voted as the NABC Division I Coach of the Year, while Duke’s Cooper Flagg earned both the NABC Division I Player of the Year award and NABC Freshman of the Year presented by adidas honors.
Auburn’s Johni Broome was selected as the NABC Pete Newell Big Man of the Year, and Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner was named the NABC Defensive Player of the Year.
Pearl has led Auburn to a 32-5 overall record and a spot in the Final Four – his second Final Four appearance with the school. The Tigers won the SEC regular season title with a 15-3 league record. He becomes just the second coach to have won both the NABC Division I and Division II Coach of the Year awards, joining the late John Chaney.
Flagg has averaged 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks per game this season, leading Duke to the Final Four. The Blue Devils are 35-3 overall and won both the ACC regular season and tournament championships.
Broome has averaged a double-double this season – 18.7 points and 10.9 – along with 2.9 assists and 2.1 blocks per game. His strong play kept Auburn atop the national rankings for much of the season, and his 25 points and 14 rebounds in Sunday’s South Regional Final led the Tigers into the Final Four.
Kalkbrenner – a four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year – ranks fifth in the nation at 2.7 blocks per game and also averaged 19.2 points and 8.7 rebounds. He guided Creighton to a 25-11 record and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament second round.
NABC Division I Coach of the Year: Bruce Pearl, Auburn
NABC Division I Player of the Year: Cooper Flagg, Duke
NABC Pete Newell Big Man of the Year: Johni Broome, Auburn
NABC Defensive Player of the Year: Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
NABC Freshman of the Year presented by adidas: Cooper Flagg, Duke
