Cooper Flagg‘s highschool profession spanned two states on the other ends of the Japanese Seaboard and it was nothing wanting spectacular.
But, as of right now, it means nothing because the largest yr of Flagg’s basketball life is shortly approaching.
To say that the No. 1 participant within the 2024 nationwide recruiting class “nonetheless has loads to show” could be a ridiculous assertion underneath regular circumstances. However, Cooper Flagg is not regular.
The 6-foot-9, 195-pound ahead has been billed as a generational expertise since his highschool profession started. He is dominated in Maine, Florida and in every single place in between. He is thought of a one-in-a-lifetime athlete.
Do not imagine me? Nicely, simply check out Duke’s present roster reformation.
The Blue Blood Blue Devils aren’t any stranger to massive commitments and No. 1 recruiting lessons. Simply in latest reminiscence, we are able to rattle off a number of highly-touted highschool gamers like who dominated at Duke earlier than changing into NBA lottery picks: Jayson Tatum, Zion Williamson, Paolo Banchero, Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett, Marvin Bagley Jr., Jabari Parker. The record goes on.
None have created the commotion that Flagg has.
Flagg’s dedication to Duke ripped by means of Cameron Indoor Stadium like a coastal Carolina wind, clearing the best way for his arrival. Many members of the “The Brotherhood” had been compelled to face the music — a seemingly unstoppable power is descending on Duke and it wants house to land. Seven gamers from Duke’s 2024 Elite Eight group, together with promising forwards Mark Mitchell and Sean Stewart, entered the switch portal. Whereas the surface-level causes could have various, the foundation reason behind their exit is Flagg. A participant of his magnitude wants a group to be constructed round him and everybody on the roster has to purchase into this idea.
In return, new portal finds like sharpshooter Mason Gillis from Purdue can house the ground for Flagg. Maliq Brown from Syracuse is predicted to be shot within the arm for Duke as a gritty, two-way participant who can kind a frontcourt wall on protection with Flagg. Rising sophomore Caleb Foster will likely be thrust into the highlight as considered one of Duke’s few returning items together with Tyrese Proctor, who determined to forgo the NBA Draft and lean into what’s occurring in Durham.
As Jon Scheyer and the Blue Devils employees cobble collectively a roster that enhances Flagg, the ante has been upped. His one yr in Durham will likely be a prove-it marketing campaign. Duke has constructed a win-now group. Flagg has all of the chips. It is all on his shoulders.
He is aware of it and everybody related to this system is aware of it.
Jared McCain, a former Duke freshman and present NBA prospect, acknowledged the elephant within the room whereas speaking to 247Sports’ Isaac Trotter on the NBA Mix.
“The folks transferring in faculty, they’ve already confirmed themselves on the faculty degree,” McCain mentioned when discussing faculty’s NIL panorama. He then piled a heap of reward (or stress) onto Flagg.
“Shoutout my man Cooper Flagg — I believe he’ll be the very best participant in faculty.”
McCain is simply saying what everyone seems to be considering. In actual fact, by acknowledging the shadows, he may need taken among the weight off Flagg’s shoulders.
Now, nobody is tip-toeing round the truth that there’s considerably of a goal on Flagg’s again. Even when he is not the very best participant in faculty basketball subsequent season, he’ll be judged as if he’s. Flagg is supposed to be faculty basketball’s most electrical presence since Zion was leaping out of his footwear. Proper now, he is penciled in as both decide No. 1 or 2 within the 2025 NBA Draft class and he alprepared being hailed as a savior for NBA draftniks, aloe for the unhealthy sunburn that’s the 2024 draft class. The parents struggling by means of sloppy scrimmage after sloppy scrimmage on the NBA Mix this week at the very least have Flagg to stay up for.
“Flagg is an elite two-way participant who makes for the very best defender within the class,” says 247Sports’ Travis Branham, who pits Flagg in a battle with Rutgers-bound guard Ace Bailey to go No. 1 in 2025. “He is additionally a flexible offensive weapon that can be utilized in quite a lot of roles. Flagg wins in every single place he goes and he is keen to do no matter it takes to contribute to a successful group. … If Flagg hits, then a franchise will get a cornerstone participant who will likely be a multi-year NBA All-Star.”
If he is not already, Flagg will quickly be a multimillionaire. Not a foul life. However there’s a number of stress, too.
Flagg may carry Duke and its heavy historical past again to the mountaintop to present the Blue Devils their first championship of the Scheyer period, swinging faculty basketball’s pendulum again from tremendous seniors to diaper dandies. Or he may fail to fulfill expectations — as many prime recruits have completed so not too long ago — and additional show that there is a massive distinction between an awesome faculty participant and a generational professional prospect (do not take the strays personally, Messrs. Edey, Timme and Tshiebwe).
Scheyer and Duke want Flagg to be nearly as good as all of us suppose he’s. For the sake of basketball, it might be much more enjoyable that means.