As March Madness spins into its most dazzling crescendo, two elements shine like twin moons guiding crazed fans and collectors alike: the heart-stopping, nail-biting thrill of buzzer-beaters and the fever-pitch mania inflating a bustling card market. It’s Sweet Sixteen time—a moment when young basketball wizards cast spells on courts nationwide, turning every layup, dunk, and heroic three-pointer into cold, hard currency in the bustling bazaar of cardboard collectibles. Here’s a rundown of who’s making some serious on-court waves and equally impressive collector splashes.
First up, we have Cooper Flagg of Duke, responding to hype like a seasoned veteran. His name resonates through arenas and on social media much like a rock star on tour, sans the guitar but with plenty of talent. This 6’8″ freshman is the golden child of future NBA drafts. Every dribble and dunk pushes his card prices—already sky-high—into new stratospheres. Just recently, a 2024 Topps Chrome McDonald’s All-American Red Refractor Auto out of 5 graded at PSA 10 left the auction block for a cool $11,000. That’s a spike of $1,500 within a mere 48 hours, as of March 25. Cooper’s playing Sabbaths are delightful whispers of an inevitable future, where his rookie cards might just require the stepping stones of a middle-class mortgage to acquire.
Then we swoop onto the Maryland sensation, Derik Queen. A whisper of leather against netting, the sweet symphony of a buzzer-beater, catapulted his name into Sweet Sixteen lore, and Topps leapt on this shining moment faster than ants on syrup. Derik Queen’s highlight, now immortalized on a Bowman U Now card, attracts collectors with the same enthusiasm as bees to a flower. This November, a 1/1 Superfractor commemorating his Herculean efforts of 22 points and 20 rebounds sold for $599. Now, as the new card hits the market with versions etched in autos numbered to ten, five, and the sought-after single—it’s a paper chase that collectors dare not miss.
Continuing with Duke’s roster of rising stars, we meet Kon Knueppel. Perhaps challenging to pronounce, yet deceptively sharp shoot prowess leaves opponents baffled and fans enchanted. Steadily climbing the ranks of NBA prospects, Kon delivers not just on the scoreboard but in the collector’s market. His flame caught when he blistered through Miami with a formidable 25 points, immediately earning a Bowman U Now card. This card—trading hands for $230—is akin to treasure for chap fans, eager to catch a player poised to leap from mid-to-late lottery positions to household name status. Enshrined further in cardboard luxury was his ACC Tournament MVP accolade, and that, friends, is how legends begin—one card at a time.
Let’s pivot to Arizona’s gem, Carter Bryant. Astride at 6’8″ with a gifted combo of defense and perimeter execution, he epitomizes the prototype NBA player for today. But in trading circles, his cards have taken a more leisurely approach to elevate, languishing seemingly unnoticed—until now. Arizona’s Sweet Sixteen clash against Duke is Bryant’s gladiator ring. Starting prices for Bryant’s Base Prizm Draft Picks reel back into the pedestrian single dollars, whereas his rare autos, like /25 priced at $49.99, start edging toward collector nirvana. Agitating the pot, a Black Gold one in five card commanded a robust $102.50. A stellar performance against Duke, however, will likely set these price points aflame.
Last but not least, Isaiah Demonte Evans. Another Duke freshman, he’s still lying in basketball ambush, his breakout pending, while collectors hover, vigilant and ready. Ranked 15th among recruits, this oft-mentioned name received scant minutes against Baylor, yet murmurs around his potential fuel small but steady card interest. A Topps McDonald’s All-American Drive-Thru Superfractor 1/1 barely $200 and Jersey Patch Auto numbered to five socking $275 hint at a potential goldmine should Evans get significant playtime and showcase his scoring gifts.
In this Sweet Sixteen showdown, the colossal hype is not just for the players’ talent impacting the nation’s basketball consciousness. It’s a fevered celebration in the collector’s market, each jump shot a myth in the making, each card an artifact of history still warm from the press. The national attention converges with NBA promise and collector fervor in a perfect marketplace storm. These prospects are not just crafting sports victories but creating legends in glossy, collectible prints. Who will you stake your fortune on as March Madness dials up to eleven? Let the games—and the bidding—begin.
