The hype around Cooper Flagg exploded two summers ago and has not relented.
Those in the know had identified the native of Newport, Maine, as a blue-chip prospect long before he attended the Nike EYBL Peach Jam in July of 2023, but it was at that elite recruiting showcase that Flagg emphatically introduced himself on the national stage.
Flagg averaged 25.4 points, 13.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 6.9 blocks over seven jaw-dropping performances that week in North Augusta, S.C., demonstrating the versatility to dominate as a scorer, rim protector, ball-handler and facilitator.
The hysteria only grew when Flagg, originally in line to graduate in 2025, reclassified and committed to Duke for the 2024-25 season.
Incredibly, he’s lived up to the sky-high expectations. He led the Blue Devils in nearly every statistical category as they surged to a 33-3 record and an ACC regular-season championship.
Now, Newark gets to capture the frenzy around Flagg as he leads No. 1 Duke into Thursday night’s Sweet 16 matchup against No. 4 Arizona at the Prudential Center.
“This is just something I dreamed about ever since I was a little kid,” Flagg, 18, said Wednesday of playing in the NCAA Tournament. “These are the moments that I imagined myself being in when I was in the driveway, things like that. Just a surreal feeling to be here in these moments and have these opportunities.”
Flagg enters this week’s East Regional averaging 18.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.3 steals per game, all of which rank first on Duke and within the top 11 among ACC players.
The 6-9 forward is one of four finalists for Naismith Player of the Year, along with Auburn’s Johni Broome, Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr. and Purdue’s Braden Smith.
Flagg is considered a slam dunk to the be first pick in this summer’s NBA Draft, eliciting levels of excitement that rival what Zion Williamson and Victor Wembanyama generated before him.
The sweepstakes to select Flagg has led to added attention around the Wizards, Jazz, Hornets, Pelicans, Sixers and Nets, who hold the NBA’s six worst records and thus the six best odds at landing the No. 1 pick.
“Cooper is about to move on with something incredibly special with the next step he’s going to go [to] after this,” Duke head coach Jon Scheyer said Wednesday.
“Happiness doesn’t necessarily equate to just becoming a pro or just making money, although they’re making money either way now [through NIL]. Each guy is their own individual, so I think depending on the situation, guys should make the decisions for themselves. But Cooper’s thing is different.”
Even with the spotlight, Flagg has demonstrated an ability to rise to the occasion. He scored 22 points during an early-season win over Arizona, then erupted for 22 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks and three steals in a victory against then-second-ranked Auburn.
Those gaudy performances came in Flagg’s fifth and eighth collegiate games.
Flagg totaled 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists in 23 minutes in last month’s 110-67 drubbing of Illinois at Madison Square Garden — his only game in the New York metropolitan area before Thursday’s.
And Flagg led the Blue Devils in scoring in 11 of their 20 games in ACC play, during which they went a remarkable 19-1. He was named the ACC’s Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year.
“He’s very kind, but he kind of keeps to himself,” said freshman guard Kon Knueppel, Flagg’s teammate and roommate. “He likes to joke around. He’s a good guy. He’s good to us even when he’s talking crap. He’s a great guy to be around off the court.”
Flagg missed all but 15 minutes of the ACC Tournament after he suffered an ugly-looking ankle injury during Duke’s win over Georgia Tech in the opener.
Duke still managed to win the conference tournament without him.
Flagg has since alleviated any concern about the injury lingering, averaging 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists in Duke’s wins over No. 16 Mount St. Mary and No. 9 Baylor in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
“Cooper, obviously, is a huge part of what we do with every aspect,” Scheyer said. “[Looking at his] defense in particular, his length, and then his instincts, he closes that window quick when somebody does have an opportunity. It’s led us to really protect our rim well, but also create some turnovers and steals to lead to easy opportunities.”
With a victory over Arizona, Duke would advance to Saturday’s Elite 8 in Newark and face the winner of No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 6 BYU.
Leaving Newark with two wins would mean a trip to the Final Four, which is set to take place April 5-7 in San Antonio.
A championship is all that’s left to accomplish in what’s been a special season for Flagg.
“I haven’t really taken much time to look back and look at the year we’ve had,” Flagg said. “Something I’m most proud of is our team as a whole coming together and being so connected, going into so many battles together and just coming out with a lot of wins.”