As the new NCAA season approaches, the Duke Blue Devils made a statement with a dominant 107-56 win over Lincoln in their exhibition opener. With six freshmen on the roster, there was some uncertainty about how Jon Scheyer’s team would perform. However, all eyes were on Cooper Flagg, the freshman who reclassified to the 2024 high school class in order to enter the NBA draft sooner. As Flagg showcased his skills during the game, Coach Scheyer took a moment to emphasize both his impressive strengths and areas for improvement afterward.

During the post-game press conference following their impressive victory, Duke head coach Jon Scheyer faced questions from the media about Cooper Flagg’s debut with the team. One reporter inquired about Flagg’s defensive prowess, specifically his ability to make blocks and how much adjustment time he would need to reach his peak performance. Scheyer responded thoughtfully, offering a comprehensive analysis of Flagg’s preseason debut performance.

“Well, he — you know he’s a natural. You know he has great instincts, obviously the with how hard he plays, and then you add in his field. He’s going to make some special plays today. He had four blocks. I think he can even add in some some steals, preferably next time going forward, but I thought it was good for him, just — I thought he was himself. I thought even for Cooper just you know he can rebound more, you know just the the the decision, there’s so much there for him and just I thought it was great for him to get a feel today though,” stated Scheyer in the post-game conference. 

Well, as it was Flagg’s debut, it was him who opened the scoreboard for Duke with a turnaround jumper in the paint. Flagg demonstrated his defensive prowess early, with a pair of blocked shots in less than three minutes. The freshman Cooper Flagg topped three Blue Devils to score in double figures with 22 points, connecting on 8-of-16 from the field and 2-of-5 from 3-point range, while adding game-highs of six assists and four blocked shots with two rebounds.

As Scheyer highlighted areas where Cooper Flagg can improve, he didn’t record a single steal and his rebounding numbers fell short of his high school average of 7.5. Despite these stats, Scheyer emphasized that it was just Flagg’s first game in college, and he deserves time to find his rhythm and showcase his true potential. Moreover, Flagg, too, shared his reflections on his debut.

Cooper Flagg shines in “childhood dream” debut

The former Montverde Academy standout certainly made a statement against Lincoln, showcasing his status as a generational talent. Within the first three minutes of the game, he delivered two impressive blocks, one of which was a spectacular rejection off the backboard. Flagg finished the night with an impressive 22 point, including a thunderous dunk in the second half that reverberated through the walls of Cameron Indoor Stadium.

For Duke freshman Cooper Flagg, his preseason debut against Lincoln on Saturday was a moment he’d envisioned since childhood. “It was incredibly special. It’s something I’ve dreamed about since I was young, playing college basketball, and I dreamed about playing at Duke as well. So just getting that experience, the first time playing against a real opponent, it was kind of surreal,” said Flagg.

Cooper Flagg’s preseason debut arrived nearly a year after he chose Duke over the two-time defending champions, UConn. With growing excitement about Flagg being a potential No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the upcoming 2024-25 season is anticipated to be his only year in college. The Blue Devils are eager to capitalize on his talent as they aim for the top spot in the ACC, starting with their regular-season opener against Maine on November 4.