It felt impossible for freshman forward [autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag] to meet the offseason hype that follows his generational label, but the 17-year-old has done an admirable job through his first eight collegiate games.
Against the No. 2 Auburn Tigers on Wednesday night, Flagg finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a pair of blocks. He paced the Blue Devils in all five categories, becoming the first Division I freshman to do so in a top-five win so far this century.
After the game, Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl had some high praise for the future lottery pick.
“He affects winning on both ends of the floor,” Pearl told Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman after the game. “His motor runs, he’s a tough matchup, he’s a really, really good player.”
Flagg’s performance against the Tigers was his third 20-point game and third double-double of the season. He’s averaging 16.6 points, 8.6 boards, 4.1 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.4 blocks per night.
Pearl also acknowledged Flagg’s 12 trips to the free-throw line, including some calls that put some of his starters in foul trouble down the stretch.
“He does get a pretty good whistle in here now,” Pearl added. “He’s not in the NBA yet. And so, we got good players, too…He gets them because he’s a great player, but I’m sure coaches in the ACC are going to be pulling their hair out.”