Tre Holloman, Curtis Jones, Dain Dainja and other Minnesotans to watch in NCAA men’s tournament

Tre Holloman, Michigan State

Junior guard, 6-2 • High school: Cretin-Derham Hall

After spending his first two seasons primarily off the bench, Holloman thrived in a major role this year under Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo, including 16 starts. Holloman is averaging career-highs in points (9.0) and assists (3.8). He had four double-figure games during an eight-game winning streak, including a career-high 20 points vs. Michigan to help the Spartans clinch the the Big Ten regular-season title.

Curtis Jones, Iowa State

Senior guard, 6-4 • High school: Cretin-Derham Hall

Jones earned first team all-Big 12 honors after leading the Cyclones with 17.1 points per game, while also averaging 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists. But the Minneapolis native also won the Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year award after starting only nine of games. He has had 12 games this season scoring at least 20 points for Iowa State, including a high of 33 at Arizona State.

J’Vonne Hadley, Louisville

Senior guard, 6-6 • High school: Cretin-Derham Hall

Hadley has been to four schools in five years, including junior college, Northeastern and Colorado. But success seems to follow him. He made the NCAA tournament the past two years with the Buffaloes and now helped a turnaround with the Cardinals. He has started every game this season with career-best averages of 12.1 points and a team-leading 7.3 rebounds. He had 20 points and nine rebounds to beat Clemson in the ACC tournament semifinals.

Dain Dainja, Memphis

Senior center, 6-9 • High school: Park Center

Playing for his third program after stints at Baylor and Illinois, Dainja saved his best for last with 14.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game this season — all career-best numbers. The Tigers won the American Athletic Conference tourney title Sunday with their eighth consecutive victory. During the win streak, Dainja has averaged 20.6 points, 10 rebounds and 1.9 blocks. He’s a beast.

Nolan Winter, Wisconsin

Sophomore forward, 7-0 • High school: Lakeville North

The Badgers’ main inside presence has been fellow Minnesotan Steven Crowl for years, but Winter emerged this season as another frontcourt threat. The son of ex-Gophers center Trevor Winter averaged 9.5 points, a team-leading 5.9 rebounds and shot 36.3% from three-point range. He had highs of 20 points and 17 rebounds.

Kerwin Walton, Texas Tech (Hopkins)

Jackson McAndrew, Creighton (Wayzata)

Will Tschetter, Michigan (Stewartville)

Pharrel Payne, Texas A&M (Park of Cottage Grove)

Steven Crowl, Wisconsin (Eastview)

Cam Heide (Wayzata), Purdue; Jack Janicki (White Bear Lake), Jack Robison (Lakeville North); Daniel Freitag (Breck), Wisconsin; Nate Heise (Lake City) and Demarion Watson (Totino-Grace), Iowa State; Cham Okey (Austin), SIU Edwardsville; Liam Carney (Providence Academy), High Point; Adam Holod (St. Paul Academy), American.