Not since Zion Williamson enrolled at Duke for the 2018-19 season has a freshman captivated faculty basketball like Cooper Flagg is predicted to within the 2024-25 season. Ranked the No. 1 general prospect within the Class of 2024 by 247Sports, Flagg is about to be a must-see attraction when the Blue Devils open the season towards Maine on Nov. 4.
The 6-foot-9 ahead would not flip 18 till Dec. 21 however is nonetheless thought to be the possible No. 1 general choose within the 2025 NBA Draft. So superior is Flagg’s sport that he was the lone faculty participant picked for the 2024 USA Basketball Males’s Choose Workforce, which educated towards the gold-medal profitable males’s nationwide workforce within the preamble to the 2024 Olympics.
Duke is ranked No. 7 within the AP preseason ballot and predicted to win the ACC, largely due to Flagg. He got here in No. 3 in CBS Sports activities’ preseason rating of faculty basketball’s High 100 and 1 gamers. Fifth-year guards Mark Sears of Alabama and RJ Davis of North Carolina are the one gamers forward of him on the record.
Assembly the hype and expectations might be a tall process for a younger participant. However Flagg is believed to be the uncommon expertise able to assembly the overused “generational” label. We’ll be monitoring his progress right here all season lengthy.
Early flash from Flagg in preseason blowout
Flagg had a pleasant and-one end within the first minute of Duke’s 103-47 exhibition beatdown of Arizona State. He added a few free throws shortly thereafter whereas accounting for 4 of his workforce’s six factors. From there, it was largely a quiet day for Flagg because the Blue Devils steamrolled the Solar Devils. He completed with 9 factors, 4 rebounds and three assists on 3 of 9 taking pictures in 21 minutes. Flagg logged simply 5 minutes within the second half because the Blue Devils performed their reserves ample minutes.
“I assumed he simply impacted the sport in lots of methods,” Scheyer mentioned. “After all, his numbers aren’t going to wow you or something. I did not put him again within the sport, in order that’s a part of it. He has this ‘it’ issue that you could’t clarify, the place he simply makes everybody round him higher. His unselfishness, when your greatest participant is just not looking for stats it has such a tremendous impression on the remainder of your workforce. That is what he does. He guards whoever you ask him to. He is pushing the break, the ball flowed via his arms. I assumed he had a very good sport and, nonetheless, he is bought much more in him.”
Flagg shines in exhibition debut
Flagg logged an environment friendly 24 minutes in Duke’s 107-56 exhibition win over Division II Lincoln (PA) on Oct. 19. He led the Blue Devils in factors (22), assists (6) and blocks (4). Whereas the competitors was missing relative to what Flagg will see all through the common season, it was an encouraging first glimpse at his versatility.
Here is what head coach Jon Scheyer needed to say about Flagg’s defensive efficiency within the sport, by way of The Devils Den: “He has nice instincts, clearly, with how arduous he performs. After which, you add in his really feel, he will make some particular performs. At this time, he had 4 blocks. I feel he may even add in some steals, ideally subsequent time going ahead. However I assumed it was good for him. I assumed he was himself. I assumed even for ‘Coop,’ he can rebound extra. There’s a lot there for him. And I assumed it was nice for him to get a really feel right now.
Flagg earns No. 3 spot High 100 and 1 record
CBS Sports activities printed its record of the highest 100 and 1 gamers in faculty basketball getting into the brand new season. Flagg registered at No. 3 on the record, trailing solely Mark Sears of Alabama and RJ Davis of North Carolina. Here is what senior author Gary Parrish needed to say about Flagg:
“Any time the consensus top-ranked highschool participant within the nation, who additionally doubles because the projected No. 1 general choose within the subsequent NBA Draft, enrolls at Duke, the eyes of the game will concentrate on Cameron Indoor Stadium, which is precisely what’s occurred this preseason. Will Flagg dwell as much as expectations and develop into the youngest Picket Award winner in faculty basketball historical past whereas serving to Jon Scheyer advance to his first Last 4 as a coach?
“As all the time, we’ll see. However there is not any doubting that the 6-9 ahead from Maine is a generational expertise who can and does impression profitable in a wide range of methods — from scoring to rebounding to passing and guarding. There’s actual substance behind the hype. His first high-profile sport might be Nov. 12 towards Kentucky within the Champions Traditional in Atlanta.”
Faculty basketball rankings: The High 100 and 1 greatest gamers getting into the 2024-25 season
Kyle Boone
Behind the scenes at Duke
Matt Norlander went behind the scenes with Duke throughout preseason apply. “Prepare, as a result of Duke might be going to be The Greatest Deal in Faculty Basketball once more, doubtlessly reaching the stratospheric ranges of Zion Williamson and firm in 2018-19,” Norlander wrote. “Whether or not the Blue Devils are one of the best workforce, top-10 good or an inconsistent curiosity, coach Jon Scheyer is aware of this season goes to be evaluated and adjudicated extra intensely than his first two.
“The explanation for that’s apparent. Cooper Flagg.”
Cooper Flagg hype units tone for Jon Scheyer’s most crucial Duke season but: An inside take a look at the Blue Devils
Matt Norlander
Cooper Flagg named CBS Sports activities preseason Freshman of the 12 months
Cooper Flagg was unanimously voted CBS Sports activities preseason Freshman of the 12 months and was the one freshman named to the CBS Sports activities 2024-25 Preseason All-America First Workforce. Here is what Cameron Salerno needed to say about Flagg’s lofty preseason accolades:
“Flagg has generated the hype of being the top-ranked prospect in his respective recruiting class due to his distinctive ability set that can translate to the faculty stage and make him one of the dominant gamers at simply 17 years previous. Flagg might be surrounded by a veteran Duke squad with nationwide championship expectations in 12 months 3 of the Jon Scheyer period. No strain, child.”
2024-25 CBS Sports activities Preseason Freshman of the 12 months: Duke’s Cooper Flagg leads frosh All-America workforce
Cameron Salerno
