“Cooper Flagg may be a generational talent. We don’t know. But let’s be real. Flagg is gonna be gone from college basketball in 10 months,” Mark Zanetto opined on the Locked On UConn podcast in October. The advantage that comes with Flagg can also turn into a disadvantage for the Duke Blue Devils and it looks like the head coach Jon Scheyer is well aware of that. The five-star recruit can turn the tables for Scheyer and get him his first NCAA title as a coach. However, his on-court brilliance has also projected him as the top NBA recruit in the 2025 mock draft. Hence, Scheyer is doing everything in his means to neutralize that impact, with his latest move being the recruitment of another five-star athlete.

On Saturday 247 Sports broadcasted a live commitment decision. During the live broadcast, Shelton Henderson announced his commitment to the Blue Devils. He, along with his supporters, opened the zip to his black jacket to reveal a white Duke tee and also put on a cap of the same program.

“Coach Scheyer believed in me. I really thank him that coach Jai Lucas. He’s been recruiting me. He’s from here, went to the same high school as me so we have that connection already. And I really appreciate them. They see me coming in making an impact as a freshman so that’s what I want to do well,” Henderson stated while reflecting on his decision.

Henderson was recruited by Jai Lucas who went to the same school as him in Bellaire and hence shared a connection with the Texas-born. Meanwhile, the Blue Devils occupy the top spot in the 2025 basketball recruitment rankings as it has two 5-star commits namely Cameron Boozer and now Henderson. To top that, it has two four-star recruits Nikolas Khamenia and Cayden Boozer.

Standing at 6-ft-6, Henderson is known to be one of the most physically imposing players in his class, which makes him an exceptional offensive player. At FIBA U18 AmeriCup where he won gold with the team coming off the bench, the small forward averaged 8 points and 4.5 rebounds in six games. The latest Duke recruit also showed off his talents at the Nike Peach Jam and the EYBL circuit by averaging over 14 points in both. He also expressed how his skills and temperament can contribute to the program.

“I think, I’m bringing winning mentality. I’m coming there to win. I’m coming there to get some work done. I’m trying to do something special. Bring a national championship to Durham would be cool. So that’s what I’m trying to do,” Henderson concluded.

The program last won a Championship title in 2015 under Coach K. But since Scheyer has taken over the role, the best Blue Devils did was reach the Elite Eight last season. Therefore, Henderson’s high basketball IQ and versatility will surely help the Durham-based team. As for this year’s star, Scheyer is all praises for Flagg.

Jon Scheyer praises Cooper Flagg

On certain days, Scheyer finds Flagg at the gym, practicing shooting skills when he arrives early. This certainly has got him in the coach’s good books, who is positive that the freshman can have a lasting impact in his first and only season with the team. And it is to be noted that Flagg chose Duke despite having offers from the defending champions UConn Huskies. Thus, Flagg must have seen something in Scheyer and his staff.

“He’s a confident player, a real confident player, which is great… But he wants direction. He wants to be told when he’s not doing something as well as he can or as hard as he can. And that’s blown me away,” Scheyer stated.

And that is the same message amplified by Flagg during the time of his commitment. Then, he revealed that, “I was just looking for a coaching staff I was really comfortable with, but [also] a coach and staff that was really going to hold me accountable.”

Joining Flagg are more top recruits including Darren Harris, Isaiah Evans, Kon Knueppel, Patrick Ngongba II, and Khaman Maluach, with the lowest grade being 87 of Harris according to ESPN. Therefore, this team too looks competent enough to beat any big one on their day. And perhaps, Flagg’s leadership will take Scheyer to his first glory as the head coach. And if in case it doesn’t, we have another year with Henderson at the forefront.