Most Outstanding Players In NCAA Tournament Since 2000

Kansas Jayhawks guard Ochai Agbaji speaks during a press conference.

The NCAA men's basketball tournament gets underway next week and there will be all sorts of interest in filling out brackets and trying to figure out what teams are live and can pull upsets. Players seek to cut down the net in Indianapolis with the national championship in hand. Who are the ones who wound up being honored as the Most Outstanding Player since 2000? For a lot of them, this was the highlight of their basketball careers.

2000: Mateen Cleaves, Michigan State

Mateen Cleaves of Michigan State talks with teammate Mike Chappell.

2001: Shane Battier, Duke

Forward Shane Battier of the Duke Blue Devils in action during a game.

2002: Juan Dixon, Maryland

Juan Dixon of the University of Maryland Terrapins celebrates by cutting down the net after the men's NCAA National Championship game against the Indiana University Hoosiers.

2003: Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse

Carmelo Anthony #15 of Syracuse holds up tommorows paper, which declares the Orangeman national champs after he and his team defeated Kansas 81-78.

2004: Emeka Okafor, UConn

Emeka Okafor of the University of Connecticut Huskies celebrates.

2005: Sean May, North Carolina

Sean May of the North Carolina Tar Heels.

2006: Joakim Noah, Florida

Florida Gators forward Joakim Noah celebrates with fans at a celebration for the Gators first NCAA basketball national championship.

2007: Corey Brewer, Florida

Florida Gators forward Corey Brewer.

2008: Mario Chalmers, Kansas

Kansas Jayhawks guard Mario Chalmers smiles as he listens to teammates.

2009: Wayne Ellington, North Carolina

Wayne Ellington of the North Carolina Tar Heels celebrates with fans as he run off the court after the Tar Heels 89-72 win against the Michigan State Spartans during the 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship game.