Capturing Cooper Flagg’s Career

College basketball sensation, Cooper Flagg, has exceeded all expectations. The moment he stepped onto the court at Cameron Indoor, he began making an enormous impact at Duke University and in all of college basketball. 

Flagg committed to Duke in 2023 as he finished his sophomore year of high school. In 2024, he was named the Maine Gatorade Player of the Year, National High School Player of the Year, a McDonald’s All-American, and received an invitation to train with Team USA’s Select Team. These are just a few of the prestigious awards that Flagg received, all before he turned 18. 

Many college basketball fans originally thought that he was overrated. However, fans who have followed his journey knew that he would thrive in a competitive environment with great teammates that let him shine. 

Having watched every Duke men’s basketball game this season, certain things stand out about Cooper Flagg’s playing style: he’s a team player, he’s there to get the job done, and he makes a huge impact on both sides of the court. 

Team Player 

Obviously, you can’t win the NCAA national championship by yourself, even when you’re as good of a player as Flagg. One of the amazing qualities Flagg has is his ability to play unselfishly and to focus on using his teammates to increase efficiency on the team. He is fully aware of the players around him and has produced stellar opportunities for his teammates over the past couple of games. Flagg is the playmaker of this young Duke team, a role that previous Duke teams often lacked. 

Motivation to Win

Cooper Flagg has never given up on the Blue Devils. Everyone knows that mistakes happen during the game, but many players do not have the maturity to get over it and keep playing. One of the aspects of his playing style that I truly admire is his ability to brush off mistakes—whether they’re made by his team, the referees, or himself. His drive is reminiscent of Duke legend Christian Laettner, who played to win and constantly improved his own game. He doesn’t let haters get to him and uses the “boos” as a way to fuel his fire. That being said, he plays to win, improve his game, and does not worry about the things he can’t control. 

Offensive and Defensive Impact 

Cooper Flagg combines aspects of some of the best Duke legends’ offensive games—Zion Williamson’s explosive dunks, Jayson Tatum’s ability to score from anywhere, and Christian Laettner’s confidence with the ball. Whether he’s dunking or shooting his classic step-back floater, he’s making an incredible difference on Duke’s team. In his best game this season against Notre Dame, he broke the ACC freshman record for most points in a game, scoring 42 points. However, Cooper Flagg doesn’t only shine on the offensive side of the court. His playing style prioritizes defense, blocking shots, stealing the ball, and forcing his opponents to make careless mistakes. What makes his impact even more impressive is that he became the first ACC player in the last 25 years to record 500 points, 100 assists, and 30 blocks in a regular season. This speaks to his all-around game and ability to contribute offensively and defensively at an elite level. His versatility and strength on the court have made him a 10-time ACC Rookie of the Week and a top contender for National Player of the Year. Baba Oladotun, Blake student and number 1 college basketball prospect for Class of ‘27, emphasized how “Cooper Flagg is a great player” and said that he will “be successful in the NBA.”

Will Cooper Flagg go to the NBA next year? 

It is evident that Cooper Flagg will be the number one pick in the NBA draft this June, if he chooses to declare for it. It is also likely that the Washington Wizards are in contention for the first overall pick. So, will we see Flagg in a Wizards jersey? Or will we see him back in a Duke jersey? Cooper had mentioned in an interview that he wants “to come back next year” to Duke. 

I had the opportunity to watch Cooper Flagg play against Syracuse. Being able to watch his interactions with his teammates and opponents has left no doubt in my mind that whatever he decides to do, he will only get better. 

Whether he stays at Duke for another season or heads to the NBA, Cooper Flagg’s legacy is already shaping up to be one for the ages. He has been such a phenomenal player to watch in the regular season. I can’t wait to see the impact he makes for Duke in the upcoming ACC Tournament and March Madness.