As if it wasn’t already clear enough, Cooper Flagg is making a more powerful case than ever to be the No. 1 draft pick this year. The Duke freshman absolutely dominated the SMU Mustangs, welcoming them to the ACC with an 89-62 victory in the Blue Devils’ favor. Arriving on the NCAA scene as one of the youngest recruits at 17, the now 18-year-old faced skepticism from fans, as is often the case. But his latest performance has definitely silenced the naysayers.

Flagg has been near the top of the charts in almost every stat as a freshman, and while his stock has only risen since coming to Duke, his shooting sometimes still poses a problem. But he still has time to improve whatever he lacks because his career trajectory has far to go in the upward direction just yet. Discussing the Duke standout, Jeff Goodman said on The Field of 68: After Dark, “I don’t think Cooper Flagg has gotten enough credit for what he’s done this year.”

Recalling his days at ESPN, Goodman revealed how he originally thought Flagg would have been one of the main selling points of the year. “It was easy – the white kid at Duke, the freshman that’s gonna be the No. 1 pick – it doesn’t get any easier than that.” But at least for a while, it did not happen.

Not to say that Flagg has been ignored or belittled for under-delivering. And yet, just because he doesn’t shoot threes as well as one might expect him to, the Blue Devils guard shouldn’t be disregarded. If anything, it should be the opposite. “This kid has over-delivered. As a freshman who just turned 18, what, a week and a half ago? He’s averaging 17 points, 8 rebounds, almost 4 assists,” Goodman says.

The journalist then points out, “He’s not shooting it well from three but man he does everything else. And he’s got the weight of the world on his shoulders in a way, in terms of not having a guard necessarily that can create and make life easier for him. He’s gotta do that for everybody else.”

Logging his 5th double-double on the season, Flagg ended the night with 24 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, one steal, and two blocks while shooting 7-12 from the field and 2-2 from the three-point line.

If there’s still any doubt, just look at the trajectory of his NIL value. Before stepping onto the grounds of Duke, Flagg was at $2.6 million, per On3. Then it rose up to $2.7, $2.9, and even $3.3 million in the holidays. Now? A massive $4.2 million! Sure, other college sports (alright, mainly football) boast higher numbers but there is no doubt Flagg leads basketball as of now. Even high school star AJ Dybantsa has been left behind.

Although some said Flagg might not be the Rookie of the Year, it looks like he’s ready to prove everyone wrong.

Hoops fans are finally paying attention

Maybe it’s because Cooper Flagg was so hyped as the next best thing in the NBA right from high school. Maybe it’s that it took him a little longer to adjust to college ball than expected. Maybe it’s just that he was a 17-year-old playing really good basketball from one perspective…but at an expected level from a college player.

He was so hyped that his skills almost seemed normal. But Flagg is certainly proving the opposite game-by-game, and ESPN college basketball reporter Myron Medcalf was impressed. “Cooper Flagg has looked different over the last few weeks,” he wrote on X. “Feels like the game is slowing down for him. Really controlling the action on the floor and doing whatever he wants. He’s always been excellent but he’s moving to another level right now and it’s fun to watch.”

Likely to go to the NBA after a year of college ball, Cooper Flagg will face an even bigger challenge if he goes pro next year. No one would expect him to be a starter right from the beginning but he would be a deadly weapon wherever he goes, whether it’s the NBA or choosing to stay at Duke.