Duke coach Jon Scheyer secured maybe the largest win of his profession on Monday when five-star ahead Cooper Flagg, who ranks because the No. 1 general prospect within the 2024 recruiting cycle by 247Sports, dedicated to the Blue Devils. Flagg’s dedication not solely offers Scheyer and his teaching workers a serious constructing block for the 2024-25 season, nevertheless it additionally jumps the Blue Devils to the No. 1 spot within the 247 Sports activities Class of 2024 Group Recruiting Rankings after ending the 2023 recruiting cycle with the No. 2 general class behind Kentucky.
Flagg is the third No. 1 general prospect in Duke’s historical past and is he considered one of many extra polished and heralded highschool gamers in latest reminiscence. The 6-foot-8 ahead out of Montverde (Florida) Academy, dedicated to the Blue Devils over reigning nationwide champion UConn. Flagg took solely two official visits throughout his recruiting course of and canceled his official go to to Kansas in early October.
“I feel after I obtained on campus at Duke, I actually began to really feel it, to be trustworthy,” Flagg informed SLAM in an article explaining his resolution. “… [I knew then] I needed to go to Duke and that is the place I needed to play faculty basketball. What went into the choice, I imply, I used to be simply searching for a training workers I used to be actually comfy with, however [also] a coach and workers that was actually going to carry me accountable. Being on the go to, I obtained to see them in observe, and see how they had been holding their guys accountable, and actually pushing them to be higher. For me, ever since I used to be a bit child, I at all times had goals of taking part in Division I basketball on the highest stage. Particularly with a spot like Duke, as soon as we obtained to campus, we felt it.”
Flagg joins a Duke recruiting class that already options three top-60 prospects in five-star ahead Isaiah Evans, five-star ahead Kon Knueppel and four-star ahead Darren Harris. The Blue Devils are additionally in rivalry to land five-star guard Dylan Harper, five-star ahead VJ Edgecombe and four-star middle Patrick Ngongba ll because the early signing interval nears.
Initially the No. 2 general prospect within the 2025 recruiting class, Flagg reclassified up to be able to be eligible for the 2025 NBA Draft. Flagg must play faculty basketball throughout the 2024-25 season — or in any other case be one yr faraway from highschool — to be able to be draft-eligible in 2025 below NBA guidelines. Due to his December 2006 birthday, he’s simply sufficiently old to be an eligible for the draft.
Listed here are just a few takeaways from Flagg’s dedication and what it means for the Blue Devils.
How Flagg suits at Duke
Flagg is the most effective two-way prospect within the nation and the highest general highschool participant in America no matter class or place. Flagg ought to slot in straight away with the Blue Devils as a result of he’s an engaged defender that makes use of his dimension to dam photographs across the rim and he crashes the boards onerous on each ends. On offense, Flagg has proven he could be a three-level scorer and has a killer intuition that makes him one of many extra intriguing prospects in a while. Though Flagg initiatives as an influence ahead in faculty and on the subsequent stage, he’s extra of a prototypical trendy wing that may function as point-forward and an offensive hub in any offense. Duke has landed loads of blue-chip prospects over time, nevertheless it’s simple to make the argument that Flagg ranks close to the highest as among the finest recruiting wins in program historical past.
This is 247Sports’ Adam Finkelstein on his personal analysis of the newly-committed Duke star from this summer season after he grew into among the finest prospects on the planet:
Cooper Flagg is an elite two-way prospect. His instincts are off the charts on each ends of the ground and he competes with a quiet kind of killer intuition. He is a defensive standout and significantly dominant as an off-ball defender. In reality, he is pretty much as good of an underclassman shot-blocker as I’ve seen at his dimension. Offensively, he is a superb passer with basis of early ability and creating playmaking means. His footwork is great. His taking pictures and dealing with each good and repeatedly enhancing. He would not essentially must be the point of interest on that finish of the ground, however he is proven he is a lot able to it. Bodily, body’s Flagg is strong sufficient to soak up contact now and can solely add extra muscle mass within the coming years.
Becoming a member of unique firm
The Blue Devils have landed two earlier No. 1 general prospects within the 247Sports period. The primary was Marvin Bagley lll within the 2017 recruiting cycle after he reclassified as much as be part of the Blue Devils for the 2017-18 season to hitch three different five-star prospects in Trevon Duval, Wendell Carter and Gary Trent Jr. The second No. 1 participant got here the next yr when Duke landed RJ Barrett from the 2018 cycle. Duke completed that yr with the No. 1 general class after touchdown Barrett, Cam Reddish, Zion Williamson and Tre Jones. The 2024 class is shaping as much as be the most effective within the Scheyer period and it indicators the Blue Devils will probably be simply high-quality on the recruiting path even with out legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski.
All eyes flip to Harper
With Flagg off the board, the very best uncommitted prospect within the 2024 class is Harper, who at the moment holds a number of Crystal Ball predictions to Rutgers from 247Sports. Harper can also be contemplating Duke, Indiana, Auburn and Kansas. The race for the No. 1 general class within the nation seems to favor Duke heading into the early signing interval, however this system that is ready to safe the providers of the highest guard within the class can have the most effective likelihood of competing with the Blue Devils for the highest spot. Rutgers already has a dedication from Ace Bailey, the No. 3 general participant within the class and pairing him with Harper will surely enable the Scarlet Knights to complete with their highest ranked recruiting class in program historical past.