The Duke Blue Devils faced disappointment in the NCAA tournament when the Houston Cougars staged a surprising comeback, ending Duke’s season in the Final Four. Many fans speculated whether Flagg would return to college next season to address any unfinished business he might feel he had. However, Blue Devils supporters were disheartened to learn that Flagg is opting to enter the NBA draft, where he is projected to be the first overall pick, irrespective of the draft lottery outcome.
“Duke fans, my teammates, the brotherhood, everybody that was along for the journey. It was an incredible year, probably the best year of my life, and I have so much gratitude and feel so blessed for all the opportunities that I was given,” Flagg stated, according to ESPN. He added, “Duke has always been a dream for me, but I’m excited to announce that I’ll be entering my name into the 2025 NBA draft.” Although Flagg’s time at Duke has concluded, he acknowledges that he has forged relationships that will last a lifetime, expressing, “Today is just the beginning, but I have the Brotherhood with me for life.”
Duke head coach Jon Scheyer praised Flagg for his outstanding season, stating, “Really proud of Cooper for the special season that he had this year. The accolades speak for themselves, with what he did, winning every National Player of the Year award. His highlights, statistics, and the ways he impacted the game on both ends of the floor—in every category—were off the charts. As good of a freshman season a guy has had here.” He further remarked, “But what sets Cooper apart and brings me joy in coaching him is the person he was every day, the teammate he was. It was never about statistics; it was about creating an environment and helping his team win. We won a lot of games and had a lot of success, often stemming from the environment created by your best player. Cooper excelled in every aspect of our program, on and off the court.”
Whichever team secures the first pick is sure to gain an exceptional talent in Flagg.
