Haitian American basketball stars and their teams to watch in March Madness 2025

Haitian American Micah Octave stood at center court, cradling the SWAC Championship trophy as colorful confetti blanketed the floor beneath him. A cigar in his mouth, he and his Alabama State Hornets teammates had secured their spot in “The Big Dance”—earning an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament with a hard-fought 60-56 victory over Jackson State.

Sunday, March 16, marked “Selection Sunday,” when a 10-person panel announced the 37 at-large teams joining the 31 conference tournament winners in the NCAA March Madness tournament. In total, 68 teams will compete for the national championship in a single-elimination format, battling through seven rounds. Teams are ranked from 1 to 68 before being placed into four regions—Midwest, East, South, and West—where they receive a second ranking, or “seed,” from 1 to 16, with No. 1 representing the top programs.

With college basketball’s biggest stage set, here’s a look at the players of Haitian descent and their teams competing in this year’s NCAA March Madness Tournament.

North Carolina Tar Heels

To understand the North Carolina Tar Heels’ place in this year’s NCAA tournament, it’s important to acknowledge the controversy surrounding their selection. UNC is considered a Blue Blood program, alongside powerhouse schools like Kentucky, Kansas, Duke, UCLA, and UConn—programs with a century of championship appearances and titles. However, this year, their inclusion in the tournament raised eyebrows.

UNC’s athletic director, Bubba Cunningham, also serves as the chair of the NCAA Selection Committee. Despite a lackluster Quad 1 record—winning just one of 12 games against top-tier opponents—UNC received an at-large bid, while teams like West Virginia, Indiana, Boise State, and Ohio State, which had better résumés in that category, were left out. Many critics argue that UNC’s influence in the selection process gave them an unfair advantage over other teams vying for a spot.

NCAA rules require the selection committee chair to leave the room and abstain from voting when their own school is under consideration. Vice Chair Kieth Gill confirmed in a CBS interview that this rule was followed. However, for skeptics—including West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey—this assurance wasn’t enough. Morrisey even threatened legal action against the NCAA over the decision.

Regardless of the controversy, UNC will have to prove they belong in the tournament by making a deep run—otherwise, doubts over their selection will only grow louder.

---

No. 22, Ven-Allen Fritz Lubin – Forward – Junior

Lubin helped lead Orlando Christian Prep to a state title in 2020. Before joining UNC, he played at Notre Dame and Vanderbilt.

---

No. 3, Elliot Cadeau – Guard – Sophomore

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Cadeau’s mother is Swedish, and his father is Haitian. He also plays for the Swedish national team.

Watch UNC vs. San Diego State – Tuesday, March 18, 9:10 p.m. EST at UD Arena on TruTV.

---

Saint Francis University vs. Alabama State: NCAA First Four

Two Haitian American athletes will face off as their teams battle for a spot in the next round—one will advance, while the other will be eliminated.

No. 23, Wisler Sanon II – Guard – Junior (Saint Francis University)

Sanon’s father was born in Haiti and immigrated to the U.S. at 16, while his mother is African American. His family owns Haitian American Cuisine, a soul food fusion restaurant in Sicklerville, New Jersey.

---

No. 11, Micah Octave – Guard – Senior (Alabama State University)

Octave, a Boca Raton, Florida, native, played at Indian River State before transferring to Alabama State, an HBCU. In his first year, he helped lead ASU to its first SWAC Tournament appearance since 2019.

Watch Saint Francis vs. Alabama State on Tuesday, March 18, at 6:40 p.m. EST on TruTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

---

No. 8 Isaac Celiscar – Forward – First Year (Yale University)

Celiscar comes from an athletic family. His brother Donald is a football coach at the University of Massachusetts, while his brother Josh played as a defensive end for Central Florida and Texas A&M before transferring to South Florida.

Watch Yale Vs. Texas A&M, Thursday, March 20, 7:25 PM EST at Ball Arena on TBS and SEC Network

---

Kentucky

No. 15 Ansley Almonor – Senior – Forward

Almonor was born in Spring Valley, N.Y. His parents are from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. This is his second NCAA March Madness Tournament appearance. His first came in 2023 when No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) made history by upsetting No. 1 seed Purdue—an upset that has only happened once before in tournament history.

Watch: Kentucky vs. Troy, Friday, March 21, 7:10 p.m. EST at Fiserv Forum on CBS

Omaha Mavericks, No. 21 Valentino Simon – Junior – Forward

Simon was born in Nassau, Bahamas, to Haitian and Bahamian parents. Before joining Omaha, he played at Hutchinson Community College.

Watch: Omaha vs. St. John’s, Thursday, March 20, 9:45 p.m. EST on CBS

The post Haitian American basketball stars and their teams to watch in March Madness 2025 appeared first on The Haitian Times.

---

Haitian American basketball stars and their teams to watch in March Madness 2025 was first posted on March 18, 2025 at 4:24 pm.