A great component comprising the exciting essence of basketball is competitive rivalries. While the NCAA world was still coming to terms with the feisty equation between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark, it appears that there is another one rising to the surface in the men’s basketball circuit. And to no one’s surprise, it involves the two bright future NBA prospects, Cooper Flagg and VJ Edgecombe.

The stage was set the previous year in the Finals of the City of Palms Classic. Two worthy teams in the form of Montverde and Long Island Lutheran were set to lock horns for the championships. While all eyes were on the back-and-forth battle both the teams were exhibiting, there was also an on-court tussle going on between the standouts from both squads–Cooper Flagg and VJ Edgecombe.

In an attempt to lead their respective units to glory, neither of the two athletes was looking to back down. “You not like that,” said Cooper while looking at his adversary after connecting a shot from the free-throw line.

But that was not all. A series of physical plays resulting in hard fouls highlighted the contest. Eventually, it was the 6 ft 9 forward who got the last laugh. Flagg’s phenomenal double-double comprising 21 points and 14 rebounds was enough to hand Montverde a 73-59 victory. At the same time, Edgecombe’s valiant efforts resulted in 20 points and 7 boards.

Following this, Flagg decided to be a part of the illustrious basketball program of the Blue Devils to kick-start his college basketball career. At the same time, amidst various rumors of him heading to Durham, Edgecombe decided to commit to Baylor. While Duke did beat Baylor in a non-conference fixture last time at MSG, what can we expect from these two if there is a face-off again?

What do Cooper Flagg and VJ Edgecombe bring to the table?

Fresh off winning the Gatorade National Men’s Athlete of the Year, Cooper Flagg is a force to be reckoned with. The McDonald’s All-American capped off his final season with the Hawks garnering 16.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists. As a result, the academy finished the season with an unbeaten 30-0. This placed him first in ESPN’s recruiting class with a scout grade of 97.

Occupying the third position in that very recruiting class is VJ Edgecombe. The 19-year-old just like Flagg has the McDonald’s All-American, Jordan Brand Classic, and Nike Hoop Summit honors next to his name. As a senior, he signed off his season with the Long Island Lutheran registering 17.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.3 steals per contest. In addition to this, the New York Gatorade Player of the Year and the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (NIBC) Player of the Year awards also make him a baller to watch out for.

With the advent of such exceptional talents, the upcoming season is expected to be a blast. Both these players have proven their worth in high school. Now, it’s time for them to shine on the big stage. What will transpire when these two take the court on opposite ends? Only time will tell.

Stay tuned for more such updates. And join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show”. Our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.