National Reporter Issues Warning to Cooper Flagg’s Biggest Threat After Long Awaited Return & Win in SEC

The race for National Player has boiled down to two stars leading their teams to the top—Cooper Flagg from Duke and Johni Broome from Auburn. Both teams are holding the top spots in their respective conferences. But recently, Auburn had to play without their star for a few games due to an injury, and in the meantime, Flagg surged to the front. Now, Broome is back, and he’s making his return count in a big way. 

At first, you’d think Broome wouldn’t be able to perform at his best after a painful ankle injury, but he did prove us all wrong. The guy’s a beast, and even though he’s not at 100% (per Hoops HQ Editor-in-Chief Seth Davis), he was everywhere during Auburn’s 53-51 SEC win over Tennessee. 

ESPN’s Jeff Borzello tweeted, “Tigers close on a 6-0 run to gut out a win and stay at No. 1. Johni Broome was everywhere in his first game back from injury: 16 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 blocks—played 33 minutes. As physical a game as we’ll get all season.”

Auburn struggled offensively in the first half, with both teams barely making shots, but Broome was the one who held things together. He scored nine of Auburn’s 22 points in the first half.

Fast forward to a tense second half, where Tennessee even took a 51-47 lead with two minutes left. But Broome didn’t flinch. He made a jumper and, after an incredible sequence, assisted Miles Kelly for a game-winning three-pointer with 30 seconds left. The senior showed why he’s so crucial for Auburn. Despite the injury, the man knows how to get it done when it matters.

Both Broome and Flagg are the major reasons why their teams are such powerhouses. Looking at their stats, Broome’s season averages of 17.9 PPG, 10.7 RPG, and 3.3 APG are impressive enough, but it’s his performances against top competition that have set him apart. 

Cooper Flagg is a bit ahead, averaging 19.2 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and 4.1 APG, along with a signature 22-point, 11-rebound, and four-assist performance against Broome’s team Auburn. 

Before the injury, Auburn’s forward was, without a doubt, the frontrunner for NPOY. He was dominating and had earned that “Maui Bump,” a boost from his stellar performance in the Maui Invitational. But while he was sidelined, Flagg took the opportunity to capitalize and surge ahead, even passing Broome in KenPom’s Player of the Year rankings and gaining an edge in most sportsbooks.

Still, the Tigers’ star has time to catch the Blue Devils’ freshman. Broome’s Auburn Tigers are currently 13-1, with their only loss coming against Flagg’s Duke. Flagg, on the other hand, is leading Duke to a 17-2 record and has made a huge impact in every game. Could the freshman phenom make his mark?

Cooper Flagg to make history as a freshman NPOY?

As reporter Isaac Trotter recently pointed out, Cooper Flagg is having one of the best individual seasons we’ve seen in a while. “He is just barely behind Zach Edey and Frank Kaminsky,” Trotter said. Both of those players were seniors who honed their skills over years of experience. 

But Flagg’s doing all of this as a freshman. You can’t help but be impressed by how Flagg has managed to make his case so early, especially considering how close his numbers are to those of the veterans. It’s clear that while Broome has the experience, Flagg’s youth only adds to his potential.

Duke’s season has been a rollercoaster, but since their loss to Kansas in November, they haven’t looked back. In their recent 63-56 win against Wake Forest, Flagg delivered another big stat line: 24 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. 

And as history shows, only three freshmen have won the Naismith College Player of the Year award—Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, and Zion Williamson. If Flagg continues to perform at this level, he could become the fourth. But the race is far from over, and Broome is one player who could stand in his way. 

We believe Broome will catch up, and who knows—maybe Flagg’s potential will make him untouchable. In the end, though, this will be worth watching, and let’s see who finally takes it home.