Does the Arrival of Cooper Flagg Make Duke the Top Contender for the National Championship Next Year?

The Blue Devils are looking to get back on track following their heartbreaking exit from March Madness last time around. Their inspirational run ended in the Elite Eight when underdogs NC State showed them the exit door with a 76-64 scoreline. Moreover, their locker room will require a complete makeover as 7 of its current players have entered the transfer portal. Nonetheless, John Scheyer has a reason to celebrate now that he got his hands on the top prospect in high school basketball, Cooper Flagg.

After his scintillating display at the Nike Hoop Summit, the 17-year-old will now feature in a Duke uniform. But what makes this phenom instrumental for this prestigious program’s NCAA title aspirations next season?

Cooper Flagg arrives

After honing exceptional talents like Kyle Filipowski and Jared McCain for the NBA, the Blue Devils have another top-ranked athlete from their recruiting class ready for next year’s draft in the form of 6-9 forward Cooper Flagg. The highest-rated recruit has picked Duke over eminent teams like UConn, Kansas, Kentucky, and Michigan.

He’s been showcasing what he’s capable of for quite some time now. A glimpse of this was witnessed in the 2024 Nike Hoop Summit where his double-double (19 points and 11 rebounds) handed Team USA a comfortable 98-75 win.

His overall abilities, which include excellent play-making, rim protection, and shooting, will serve the required versatility that John Scheyer needs at the moment. In addition to this, his efficiency in scoring field goals along with the ruthless conversion of beyond-the-arc attempts is also a handful.

Furthermore, Flagg’s magical footwork allows him to act on his basketball instincts and has worked wonders both offensively and defensively. So much so, that he has emerged as one of the best underclassman shot-blockers and an elite distributor at the high school level. Consequently, this has resulted in him finishing his high school career on a high.

What reputation does Flagg have before entering Duke?

As it turns out, there is a very long list of accolades that Flagg got his name on before his NCAA debut. He is the 2024 Boys Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year and participated in the McDonald’s All-American game. He also led the Montverde Academy to the Chipotle National Championship by remaining undefeated throughout the season.

The power forward was named the MVP of the 2023 Hoophall Classic after he scored 21 points, and 5 steals, to go with 5 rebounds and 3 assists. While headlining the 2024 Jordan Brand Classic, he also claimed the 2024 Naismith Prep Player of the Year.

Earlier, while he was representing Nokomis Regional High School, he became the first freshman to win the Maine Gatorade Player of the Year. Not only this, but his stellar average of 20.5 points, 10 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 3.7 steals, and 3.7 blocks per game played a vital hand in Nokomis lifting the Class A state championship.

On a national level, Flagg is a gold medalist at the FIBA U17 World Cup in 2022. Representing the USA at just 15 years of age, he set the record for most rebounds in a single game (17) for the men’s U17 team. This historic performance was in the Final, which secured him the USA Basketball’s Male Athlete of the Year. Acknowledging the immense talent he possesses, some NBA scouts further elaborated what he brings to the table.

NBA having their keen eye on this future prospect

Cooper Flagg is a favorite to become the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft. This news doesn’t seem to surprise given the fact that some of the NBA recruiters heap praises on this wonder kid. Stating him as “just different,” one recruiter pointed out the qualities that Flagg has to make him a success at the professional level.

As per ESPN, the scout said, “He has the mental makeup. He’s consistent with his mindset, motor and production. If he doesn’t develop an ounce of his offensive package from this day forward, he’s still potentially in the running for a defensive player of the year at the NBA level.” 

This is not all, as some college coaches also agree that he has what it takes to flourish at the big level. Describing him as a “modern-day wing,” he expressed, “Long, athletic, versatile, and can dribble, pass and shoot. I think the intensity and competitiveness he plays with will translate really smooth to the next level.”

Clearly, Cooper Flagg has a breathtaking resume before he makes strides on the college basketball level. Joining the roster along with the likes of Isaiah Evans (No. 8), Kon Knueppel (No. 22), Darren Harris (No. 45) V.J. Edgecombe (No. 5), and Pat Ngongba (No. 19), Duke can come out as the most formidable roster, not just in the ACC but across the country. It will be enthralling to see them utilize their potential to the full extent in this upcoming season.