“When you look at some of our special guys. Paolo (Banchero) was Paolo. Zion was Zion. Jayson (Tatum) is Jayson. I think he’s proven — he’s Cooper. That to me is the marking of a great player,” said Duke head coach Jon Scheyer about Cooper Flagg for the Maine Event at Duke. The freshman forward is projected to go No. 1 in the upcoming NBA draft, but fans aren’t ready to let go of him just yet. Why would they?

Making his debut for Jon Scheyer’s squad last November against the Maine Black Bears, Flagg has been leaving fans and analysts in awe ever since. The forward is putting up 19.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game while shooting an impressive 49.4% from the field. Thanks to his performances, Duke now sits atop the rankings for the first time since 2021.

In a surprising turn of events, Duke fans and alumni have been putting serious money on the line to keep their superstar. According to the FanStake website, a fan recently staked $7,550, bringing the total amount to $71,555 as fans desperately try to hold on to their star player.

It all started when Flagg shocked everyone by saying he wanted to come back during an interview with The Athletic last month. Since then, fans have been doing everything they can to convince him to stay. It was also reported that an anonymous Blue Devils alum staked a massive $25,000 on FanStake last month. Call it delusion, call it hope, but you’ve got to admire how much Duke fans love Cooper Flagg. And honestly, maybe that’s exactly why the freshman is even considering coming back next season!

While the chances of Cooper Flagg returning are less than 5%, Duke fans have no reason to worry! The Blue Devils will be just fine next season, even without their NPOY contender. Let’s take a look at it.

Duke will be fine without Cooper Flagg

While the focus is on the big dance for Jon Scheyer and his squad, they’ve already secured another strong recruiting class for next season. This marks Scheyer’s third No. 1 recruiting class. No reason to worry, Duke fans!

Duke is set to dominate next season, no matter what the future holds for Cooper Flagg and his teammates. The 2025 class is stacked, with the No. 2 overall prospect, Cameron Boozer, leading the charge. Alongside him are No. 15 Shelton Henderson, No. 19 Nikolas Khamenia, and No. 21 Cayden Boozer, creating a powerhouse that will have fans buzzing.

But that’s not all. Duke is still heavily recruiting Nate Ament, the only uncommitted top-10 player in the class. Former Duke and NBA player Austin Rivers has been part of the effort, inviting Ament to his podcast and making a strong pitch for the Blue Devils. “I can tell you, we want you, that’s already clear. Jon already told me to press you. Listen, come to the show, they got more Duke games on ESPN than the Lakers,” Rivers said.

While Duke fans will be cautiously optimistic about a return of Cooper Flagg next season, the future remains bright for the Blue Devils. With a stacked 2025 recruiting class and continued efforts to secure top talent like Nate Ament, Duke is primed to remain a powerhouse in college basketball.