“Reminds Me of Kevin Durant”: Fans Get Excited as Cooper Flagg’s Early Days at Duke Sets High Expectations for 17-Year-Old NCAA Star

Many would believe that Duke hit a jackpot by grabbing the 2024 National High School Player of the Year Cooper Flagg. The 17-year-old who many project to be a future No.1 NBA draft pick has left no stone unturned in providing a glimpse of the sheer talent he possesses. Another such example was on display during an intense Blue Devils practice session. Consequently, this has people going gaga over him.

The much-awaited first look of the five-star freshman forward Cooper Flagg graced Duke’s practice facility recently. What many are referring to as the best-looking roster for John Scheyer since the 2018-19 Duke basketball campaign, it is the 6-foot-9, 205-pound high-school phenom acquiring center stage. This was further validated by Duke’s official Instagram handle which shared some highlights of Flagg’s aptitude for the game.

The video features a sweaty Cooper Flagg slaying it on the hardwood. Whether it is offense or defense, the All-American forward is putting up a classic exhibition of his skills. The quick movement, immaculate ball handling, and pin-point shooting correctly justify all the hype around him. In addition to this, Flagg also provides a teaser of his ability to dictate the game on his own terms.

Earlier, Flagg’s game was under the microscopic lens of National Basketball Analyst Travis Branham. He expressed, “The Top Dog superlative goes out to the most competitive player in the class. But in this case, it was also awarded to the best player in the class, Cooper Flagg.” 

Pointing out his accolades, Branham further evaluated what Flagg can bring to the table for the Blue Devils. He added, “Whether it’s been with winning gold with USA Basketball, leading his team into the Peach Jam Final or going undefeated in high school, Flagg has been dominant and consistent in every situation.” 

However, it is not only analysts who are heaping praises on this rising college basketball star.

Fans admire the brilliance of Cooper Flagg

Cooper Flagg capped off his high-school career collecting an average of 16.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game to go with 3.4 assists in his final season. As a result, the Eagles were unbeaten throughout their campaign. This was enough to draw a comparison of him with the Phoenix Suns power forward Kevin Durant. The fan wrote, “Reminds me of Kevin Durant.” 

The 2010 national champion Kyle Singler was an absolute beast on the college basketball circuit. His numerous accolades and performance overseas made him a hot pick for the Detroit Pistons in 2012. Anyhow, what set him apart and paved the way for an illustrious career was how he made the most of his physical features such as his height and reach. Although some people haven’t seen Cooper Flagg play, they were able to connect him with the 6 ft 8 in small forward. One fan expressed it by writing, “Haven’t heard much about this kid but he looks promising. Maybe a freshman version of Kyle Singler? Hope so!” 

Meanwhile, some fans were aware of what he’s capable of. Closely following his game, they were eager to witness what he could produce for Duke. One of them shared the excitement by expressing, “Can’t wait to see this team in action!! Go Duke!” 

Moreover, there were some NBA fans in the house as well. After examining what the 2022 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year can produce, there were some predictions regarding his journey as a pro in the future. Linking Flagg to current NBA champions, one X user wrote, “Future Celtic Legend.” 

On a contrary note, some people were not impressed by what they saw. They opined that there was nothing special about him and he was just like any other athlete. Subsequently, the fan commented, “Average college basketball player.” 

It will be worth watching what sort of impact Cooper Flagg creates with the Blue Devils. After their heartbreaking exit from the Elite Eight stage this time, their supporters will be expecting them to go further. Can Cooper Flagg take them all the way as a freshman?

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.