The battle for Freshman of the Year is one of the most interesting narratives in college basketball right now. Ladies and gentlemen, Cooper Flagg, Duke’s sensational freshman, is backed for Freshman of the Year due to his great displays on the floor. Making him one of the most promising prospects in the country. However, the process that leads to this achievement is far from smooth sailing, as other ACC players keep on rising.

Cooper Flagg’s impact at Duke has been phenomenal, to say the least. At 6’9″, Flagg has been crucial in Duke’s 12–2 start since December. He has averaged almost 19 points a game. He can score, defend, and facilitate, and he’s a generational talent. That dominance was reinforced on January 4 when he recorded a remarkable double-double against SMU, with 24 points and 11 rebounds.

Tyler Hansbrough, speaking on the Field of 68: After Dark podcast, highlighted the competitive landscape. “Cooper Flagg has gotten so much hype and so much attention that I think it’s already automatically written that he’s going to win all the awards. And my only point in saying that is that listen. Hey, there’s a lot of other freshmen out there playing big-time basketball.”

While Cooper Flagg’s individual performances are noteworthy, it’s also interesting to see his individual performances help elevate Duke in the AP polls to No. 4. He’s made his case for Freshman of the Year with his consistent contribution. Including earning both ACC Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week honors in the same week twice this season.

As Hansbrough mentioned, other freshmen have caught the eye this season despite Flagg’s stellar freshman performances. That includes North Carolina’s Ian Jackson, who is playing well enough to be in the mix. Hansbrough added, “You look at the Tar Heels, even though we’re struggling a little bit, Ian Jackson has been a breakout player. He’s had big-time games. And he continues to get better and better.”

Hansbrough’s claims are backed up by Jackson’s stats. Jackson is averaging 14.9 points this season for UNC, shooting 51 per cent from the field. The most indicative performance from his side came on January 4. When he played against Notre Dame, scoring a career-high 27 points and pulling down 6 rebounds.

Cooper Flagg vs Ian Jackson: A battle of performances

Jackson’s domination of key moments, as he did against Notre Dame, has been observed. Hansbrough elaborated, “You know there’s been moments in games. Where, you know, especially against, like, you watch the Florida game, Ian Jackson took over in the second half and basically has become a highlight show and athletically, he has the athleticism to just elevate over a defender. He can get you a bucket, uh he can take players off the dribble. And also, he will get out and run.”

But Cooper Flagg’s performances remain the benchmark. That stretch of two games this month, in which he averaged 24 points, 7 rebounds and 4.5 assists. It shows his ability to shape the game in every manner. It is obvious that his shooting efficiency was masterful as well: 61.5% from the field and 100% from the free throw line. Duke fans are looking forward to his return to the court next against Pittsburgh, where he hopes to keep the streak of dominance alive.

The race for Freshman of the Year will only heat up as the season goes on. While Flagg’s consistency stands out, Jackson’s breakout performances throw a wrench in things. As college basketball plays on, so does the narrative of each game, and college basketball fan excitement keeps building. But while Flagg is consistently good enough to be out in front, Jackson’s breakout performances make it a compelling challenge. As the narrative of each game continues to evolve, college basketball fans are getting more and more excited.