Duke phenom Cooper Flagg made his long-awaited collegiate debut Monday night as the No. 7 Blue Devils outlasted Maine 96-62 to open the 2024-25 season. Flagg finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists in 30 minutes before checking out with 3:28 remaining while battling cramps.
The Maine native didn’t get his first basket from the floor until 6:25 remained in the first half. But his command for the game was on display early as Flagg assisted on two of Duke’s first three buckets. With fellow freshman Kon Knueppel on fire with 13 points in the first seven minutes, Flagg took on a complimentary role for much of the first half.
But Flagg’s ability to impact the game without the ball in his hands is part of the allure that makes him the projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The 17-year old is regarded as a multi-faceted offensive hub and versatile defender because of his combination of size and athleticism at 6-9 and 205 pounds.
Meeting the hype and expectations will be a tall task for a young player. But Flagg is believed to be the rare talent capable of meeting the overused “generational” label. We’ll be tracking his progress here all season long. Here’s more on his first game as the Blue Devils started 1-0.
You gotta see this
With Duke leading just 35-27 and under four minutes remaining in the first half, Flagg offered a glimpse of the highlight-reel capability that helped make him the No. 1 overall prospect in the Class of 2024. Operating on the right wing, Flagg beat a Maine defender off the dribble, hit the paint and then exploded for a vicious right-handed dunk. The play ignited the Cameron Crazies and offered a glimpse of the electric potential that Flagg brings.
Key stat
Flagg made 6 of 6 free throws, which was a great sign considering how much time he’s likely to spend at the charity stripe this season.
Giving out a grade
Flagg looked comfortable and in command, even during a slow offensive start. The Blue Devils were +27 with him on the floor, and he passed the eye test in his first game against a Division I opponent after a couple of exhibitions against lower-tier foes. Flagg rarely forced looks on offense, but he did finish just 6 of 15 shooting. Flagg’s 0 for 4 mark from beyond the arc was the biggest drag on his grade. Overall, though, it was a good start. Grade: B+
Up next
Duke returns to action Friday at 6 p.m. ET when the Blue Devils welcome Army to Cameron Indoor Stadium. It will be the final tune-up before a Nov. 12 showdown vs. Kentucky in the State Farm Champions Classic.
Early flash from Flagg in preseason blowout
Flagg had a nice and-one finish in the first minute of Duke’s 103-47 exhibition beatdown of Arizona State. He added a couple of free throws shortly thereafter while accounting for four of his team’s six points. From there, it was mostly a quiet day for Flagg as the Blue Devils steamrolled the Sun Devils. He finished with nine points, four rebounds and three assists on 3 of 9 shooting in 21 minutes. Flagg logged just five minutes in the second half as the Blue Devils played their reserves ample minutes.
“I thought he just impacted the game in a lot of ways,” Scheyer said. “Of course, his numbers aren’t going to wow you or anything. I didn’t put him back in the game, so that’s part of it. He has this ‘it’ factor that you can’t explain, where he just makes everyone around him better. His unselfishness, when your best player is not searching for stats it has such an amazing impact on the rest of your team. That’s what he does. He guards whoever you ask him to. He’s pushing the break, the ball flowed through his hands. I thought he had a good game and, still, he’s got a lot more in him.”
Flagg shines in exhibition debut
Flagg logged an efficient 24 minutes in Duke’s 107-56 exhibition win over Division II Lincoln (PA) on Oct. 19. He led the Blue Devils in points (22), assists (6) and blocks (4). While the competition was lacking relative to what Flagg will see throughout the regular season, it was an encouraging first glimpse at his versatility.
Here’s what head coach Jon Scheyer had to say about Flagg’s defensive performance in the game, via The Devils Den: “He has great instincts, obviously, with how hard he plays. And then, you add in his feel, he’s going to make some special plays. Today, he had four blocks. I think he can even add in some steals, preferably next time going forward. But I thought it was good for him. I thought he was himself. I thought even for ‘Coop,’ he can rebound more. There’s so much there for him. And I thought it was great for him to get a feel today.
Flagg earns No. 3 spot Top 100 and 1 list
CBS Sports published its list of the top 100 and 1 players in college basketball entering the new season. Flagg registered at No. 3 on the list, trailing only Mark Sears of Alabama and RJ Davis of North Carolina. Here’s what senior writer Gary Parrish had to say about Flagg:
“Any time the consensus top-ranked high school player in the country, who also doubles as the projected No. 1 overall pick in the next NBA Draft, enrolls at Duke, the eyes of the sport will focus on Cameron Indoor Stadium, which is exactly what’s happened this preseason. Will Flagg live up to expectations and become the youngest Wooden Award winner in college basketball history while helping Jon Scheyer advance to his first Final Four as a coach?
“As always, we’ll see. But there’s no doubting that the 6-9 forward from Maine is a generational talent who can and does impact winning in a variety of ways — from scoring to rebounding to passing and guarding. There’s real substance behind the hype. His first high-profile game will be Nov. 12 against Kentucky in the Champions Classic in Atlanta.”
Behind the scenes at Duke
Matt Norlander went behind the scenes with Duke during preseason practice. “Get ready, because Duke is probably going to be The Biggest Deal in College Basketball again, potentially reaching the stratospheric levels of Zion Williamson and company in 2018-19,” Norlander wrote. “Whether the Blue Devils are the best team, top-10 good or an inconsistent curiosity, coach Jon Scheyer knows this season is going to be evaluated and adjudicated more intensely than his first two.
“The reason for that is obvious. Cooper Flagg.”
Cooper Flagg named CBS Sports preseason Freshman of the Year
Cooper Flagg was unanimously voted CBS Sports preseason Freshman of the Year and was the only freshman named to the CBS Sports 2024-25 Preseason All-America First Team. Here’s what Cameron Salerno had to say about Flagg’s lofty preseason accolades:
“Flagg has generated the hype of being the top-ranked prospect in his respective recruiting class because of his unique skill set that will translate to the college level and make him one of the most dominant players at just 17 years old. Flagg will be surrounded by a veteran Duke squad with national championship expectations in Year 3 of the Jon Scheyer era. No pressure, kid.”
