Every time Duke basketball coach Jon Scheyer has spoken about top-ranked freshman [autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag], he’s praised his effort and hustle.
Flagg, one of the most hyped college basketball prospects in years, is pitched as the ultimate competitor and described himself as someone who takes pride in his defense. On Monday, he picked up the ultimate bragging rights for his play style.
He won the Blue Devils’ pacer contest.
The pacer test, notorious among all American public school students, asks its participants to start running after a beep. If the athletes don’t cross a certain distance (in this case, three-quarters of a basketball court and back) by the following beep, they’re eliminated. The beeps gradually get closer together, increasing the difficulty, and the goal is to go until you fail.
In a video shared by the Duke social media team on Monday, Flagg was the last Blue Devil standing in the team’s version of the contest, adding yet another feather to his decorated cap.
Even more encouraging than that, the rest of his teammates rooted him on as he tried to get one final run in. Purdue transfer Mason Gillis fired him up before he started, and Tyrese Proctor and Isaiah Evans ran the last set with him to help him over the line.
Duke basketball fans can watch Flagg tough out those last few runs below.
HAVE A DAY @Cooper_Flagg 🏃♂️👟💨 pic.twitter.com/9AXhwuHyEi
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) August 26, 2024