Cooper Flagg and Montverde beat Prolific Prep, but for the second time this season, the AJ Dybantsa-led team pushed them to their limit.
With 1:38 remaining in Saturday’s game between national powerhouses Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) and Montverde Academy (Fla.), Prolific Prep led the undefeated Eagles by two points.
Montverde has yet to be truly tested this season. Running out a lineup of three McDonald’s All-Americans (and arguably five worthy of consideration), the Eagles entered the game 22-0 with an average win margin of about 32 points per game.
With just half a minute left, Prolific Prep was as close to beating them as any team had been since Jan. 14, when the team faced, well, Prolific Prep. The score was tied in that game with about a minute remaining before Montverde grabbed it.
On Saturday, Prolific Prep did not score over the final minute-and-a-half as Montverde clamped its defense, forcing a shot-clock violation and an offensive foul. The Eagles went on an 8-0 catalyzed by a pair of field goals by Robert Wright III, a basket by Cooper Flagg, and then a pair of free throws by Derik Queen and Flagg. The final score was 78-72, a game that was even closer than the final indicated.
✅Held the Crew scoreless over the final 1:35 ✅Closed the game with an 8-0 run ✅14 offensive rebounds ✅Scored 29 points off of 17 PP turnovers pic.twitter.com/LRn4m7hhKF
Liam McNeeley led with 19 points, while Flagg recorded 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and three steals and blocks apiece. AJ Dybantsa led Prolific Prep with 18 points, four rebounds, and four assists, though Montverde forced him into six turnovers.
The finish was similar to that Jan. 14 game, when Prolific Prep led by as many as three points with less than three minutes to play. The Eagles went on a quick 5-0 run behind a pair of free throws and a Curtis Givens 3-pointer and closed it out with a 76-71 win.
Only one other team this season has come close to beating Montverde: No. 3 Paul VI, which kept the deficit within two points entering the final minute of the contest before McNeely hit a 3, Montverde forced a turnover, and Wright added another pair, per MaxPreps’ scoretracker. That made the difference, as the Eagles won by seven.
These games could mean a couple of different things. One is that Montverde is not a team that dominates only until it faces pressure. It’s a mature group that meets the pressure and has stayed strong against all of the top teams it has played so far this season.
The other is that Prolific Prep is darn near close to taking them down. The team knows it must play just about perfect to win. And twice, they’ve toed that line of perfection.
Montverde might not want to see them a third time.
Montverde boys basketball, led by Cooper Flagg and Derik Queen, have won its first 15 games of the seasons over tough opponents.
Montverde Academy (Fla.) entered this season with sky-high expectations stemming from its seven rostered players ranked as three-star or better, four of whom have five-star ratings.
Fifteen games into the season, the Eagles are more than meeting them.
On Friday, Montverde’s 93-51 win over Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) was a blowout over what is arguably another top 5-to-10 team in the nation. The Eagles scored the first 12 points of the game before taking a 24-4 lead into the second quarter. They never trailed and raised their record to 15-0 halfway through the season.
The schedule has been as demanding as any other team in the country.
Several teams Montverde beat are under consideration for the USA TODAY Sports Super 25: Huntsville (Ala.), which is 21-1, suffered its sole loss to the Eagles. Wasatch Academy fell by 35 points. Montverde beat IMG Academy and Columbus, whose rosters contain four- and five-star players such as Darius Acuff Jr., Donnie Freeman, Khani Rooths, and Cameron and Cayden Boozer, and then Link Academy, who has about a half-dozen ranked prospects of its own. AZ Compass Prep managed to keep the score within a dozen before Archbishop Stepinac fell by 40.
(USA TODAY Network)
In the City of Palms Classic, Montverde played against what are likely the second- and third-best teams in the nation in Paul VI and Long Island Lutheran. In the semifinals, Montverde took down Paul VI 69-62 before outplaying LoLu and winning by 14 in the championship.
MaxPreps has 13 games worth of stats for Montverde in its system. According to the outlet, five-star senior Derik Queen leads the team in scoring with 16.8 points per game to go along with 7.2 rebounds in those games. Five-star senior Cooper Flagg is averaging 15.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.1 blocks per game.
Asa Newell, a five-star forward, is averaging 12 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game, while fellow five-star player Liam McNeeley is posting 13.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game.
With the Eagles led by that group of highly touted prospects, they have run through their schedule with minimal challenge. Through 15 games, it’s unclear if any team can present a serious threat to this group.
A former NBA scout analyzes who the top player in the nation is for high school basketball recruiting.
The class of 2024 is nationally a deep one in high school basketball, led by five-star forward Cooper Flagg, a Duke commit.
But, until Flagg re-classified this summer, it was Dylan Harper who was the top player in the class of 2024. Now, Harper is largely considered the second-best player in the nation.
Flagg’s re-classification saw him vault from being the top player in the nation in the 2025 class to now becoming the best in this class as well. He is a 6-foot-9 forward at Montverde Academy (Montverde, Florida).
When former NBA scout Matt Babcock was asked who the top player in this class is, he provided a nuanced answer that was very definitive.
“As a scout and NBA draft analyst, comparing players is a big part of my job. However, it is challenging, especially when comparing two players with entirely different styles, like Harper and Flagg,” Babcock told USA TODAY High School Sports.
“With Harper, you have a jumbo-sized on-ball creator. And with Flagg, what’s not to like? He has excellent size, athleticism, and a motor that doesn’t stop. I think both have the potential to be outstanding NBA players. One potential separator for me is if these guys don’t blossom into stars; as one would hope, Flagg possesses more traits that would allow him to be an effective complementary player, whereas Harper needs the ball in his hands more to be effective. So, subsequently, there’s likely more safety in Flagg as a prospect — he probably has a higher floor.”
Harper, committed to Rutgers, is a guard at Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, New Jersey). He is the No. 2 overall recruit in the nation according to the 247Sports Composite.
Considered one of the top talent evaluators in the nation, Babcock is currently an NBA draft analyst and scout for Babcock Hoops.
The City of Palms Basketball Classic is giving out some sweet Nikes to the all-tournament team.
One of the premier high school basketball tournaments in the nation (OK, maybe the premier high school basketball tournament in the nation), the City of Palms Basketball Classic is big-time stuff. And the swag for the all-tournament team? Beyond impressive.
Cooper Flagg is Duke’s newest big recruit, but how good is he? Come find out here.
If you thought Duke was just going to fade away into the ether after Coach K retired, think again.
Duke is back with a vengeance. And it’ll have one of the best high school basketball players we’ve seen in years to back it up. Cooper Flagg has officially committed to playing at Duke next season.
News broke Monday morning on Flagg’s commitment to the Blue Devils via Slam Magazine. The publication released the announcement along with the latest cover featuring Flagg in a Blue Devils jersey. Duke haters, please look away. I know it hurts.
For those of you who aren’t as in the loop on Flagg’s talent, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. Here’s everything you need to know about this truly special basketball talent.
Cooper Flag, the top boys basketball player in high school, announced his commitment to the Duke Blue Devils.
The storied legacy of the Duke men’s basketball is poised to enter its next chapter: five-star forward Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 recruit in high school basketball, announced his commitment to the Blue Devils on Monday morning.
Flagg, a 6-foot-8 forward who shows elite skill on both sides of the ball, reclassified to 2024 this year after averaging 26.8 points, 12.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 5.2 blocks in the Nike EYBL 16U circuit and then 25.4 points, 13 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 6.9 blocks at the Peach Jam.
He has long been considered a top prospect in high school regardless of class and rose to consensus No. 1 after performances like his 27-point triple-double and outburst of 45 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists in 16U play and his absurd stat line of 38 points, 16 rebounds, six assists and 12 blocks in a Peach Jam game.
Flagg had plans to visit Duke, UConn and Kansas over the last month-and-a-half but canceled the trip to see the Jayhawks. After seeing UConn (visited the weekend of Sept. 22) and Duke (official visit Oct. 20; unofficial in August), it appeared the choice would come down to those two programs after his mother and the Montverde Academy (Fla.) coach said they expected a quick decision.
According to ESPN, Duke has long been the favorite, with head coach Jon Scheyer actively attending many of Flagg’s games since at least the 15U Nike EYBL circuit.
“After I got on campus, I really started to envision myself in Durham,” Flagg said in a commitment video made by SLAM. “All the love I felt made me really excited, seeing all the Crazies and the atmosphere in Cameron.”
He chose Duke, furthering the line of so many other high school greats who chose the Blue Devils. Recent Duke alums in the NBA include Paolo Banchero, RJ Barrett and Zion Williamson; active Blue Devils who have become All-Star-caliber include Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum and Brandon Ingram; and long careers were established under Mike Krzyzewski, including Grant Hill, Elton Brand and Carlos Boozer.
Flagg hopes to follow in the footsteps of those players before him under Scheyer.
Flagg, initially a 2025 recruit who reclassified into 2024, plays for Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida. He averaged 9.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists this past season.
Blue Devils coach Jon Scheyer now has the top 2024 recruiting class in the country, per 247Sports. Duke also has commitments from five-star Isaiah Evans, five-star Kon Knueppel, and four-star Darren Harris.
How does Duke keep getting away with this? Duke cannot keep getting away with this, man.
For those of you wondering if Flagg is good enough for me to be this upset, the answer is yes. Absolutely yes. He’s Duke’s highest ranking recruit since RJ Barrett in 2018 and he’s easily its best talent since Zion Williamson.
He’s an early lock to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft and it’s so easy to see why. He’s elite at everything.
Cooper Flagg, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, announced he's committed to Duke. The 6'9, 16-year old averaged 26.8points, 12.4rebounds, 5.2 blocks and 4.7 assists, shooting 37% for 3, in the Nike EYBL 16U for Maine United this summer. pic.twitter.com/gwzt9JgqqA
It doesn’t matter who mans the head of that bench. It could be Mike Krzyzewski. It could be Jon Scheyer. It could even be me. Duke is always going to find a way to land the best prospects in the country and it’s maddening.
Man, I’m so foolish. For some odd reason, I thought that with Coach K out of the picture, Duke would come back down to Earth with the rest of us. I thought the school would have to play in the mud for once — that it’d have to learn how to be human like the rest of the college basketball teams around the country.
I was wrong. Dead wrong. It turns out the sheen on those championships doesn’t fade away so fast, unfortunately. Duke has a long history of, well, being Duke. And it’s not shocking that Flagg would choose that over anything else.
Ultimately, for the Flagg, it reportedly came down to choosing between Duke and UConn. No disrespect to our current national champion, but once it got to that point we knew where things were going.
Flagg is a self-described lifelong Duke fan and called it his dream school over a year ago. It was an inevitability that Flagg would choose Duke. And, honestly, I’m happy that he’ll get to live out his dream.
It’s just a shame that I’m going to have to hate him now. If he’s a Washington Wizard by 2025 I’ll be over it, though.
Jim Harbaugh has nowhere to go
Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jim Harbaugh is done. It feels like there’s a strong chance he won’t be at Michigan next season. He probably won’t be coaching football at all.
I know what you’re thinking. “OK, fine. If Michigan lets him go, he can just jump back to the NFL and pick up where he left off there.” Wrong. The NFL is reportedly prepared to honor any suspension levied against Harbaugh by the NCAA, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport writes.
“The NFL is unlikely to make itself a safe harbor for Harbaugh to escape what could be substantial NCAA discipline, league sources say, raising the strong possibility Harbaugh would need to serve some or all of any possible suspension he could face in college if he returns to the pros.”
The man has nowhere to go, folks. He’s going to have to eat this one. And good. This is exactly what he deserves. His team broke rules under his watch — again. He doesn’t just get to run off and have his players take it on the chin in his stead.
He can claim to not know what Connor Stalions was doing all he wants, but I find it hard to believe that Jim freaking Harbaugh didn’t know how an extra $55,000 was being spent under his watch? Please. Come on, folks.
The story of Jim Harbaugh is a tragic irony. He’s a man stranded out at sea on a speedboat with an empty tank of gas and no oars.
That’s how this season feels for Michigan. This is probably his best season at the school and his best chance to finally win it all. The Wolverines are the No. 2 team in the country and it looks like they could potentially stand up to Georgia in a potential championship game.
Instead of talking about that, though, we’re all talking about the mistakes of the team’s head coach.
Hate to see it.
The LeBron minutes limit is already over
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Darvin Ham said the Lakers were trying to keep LeBron James with a workload of around 30 minutes per game at the start of the season.
That’s already out the window.
Since then, the Lakers have played two games. One was a win against a Phoenix Suns team minus two of their stars. The other was an overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings. James played at least 35 minutes in both of those games. In the Kings game, in particular, he played 40 (!!!)
James has been productive — he’s nearly averaging a triple-double. But this isn’t a good look. He’s playing far too much too early right now. Bron is superhuman. We get it. But there’s no way he’s going to last if he has to hold this sort of workload at 38 years old.
It says a lot about the Lakers’ talent that James and Ham have to pull out this card already. Let’s hope it doesn’t come back to bite them anytime soon.
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Cooper Flagg’s mom and Montverde coach both expect he’ll decide between Duke and UConn soon. Early signing period runs from Nov. 8-15.
Top high school boys basketball recruit Cooper Flagg canceled his official visit to Kansas that had been scheduled for this weekend, according to the Messenger. With that text to head coach Bill Self and assistant coach Norm Roberts, he is expected to soon make a decision on his collegiate future.
Both Montverde head coach Kevin Boyle and Cooper’s mother, Kelly Flagg, told the outlet that they think the decision soon.
Flagg took an official visit to UConn the weekend of Feb. 22. During the week of Oct. 20-22, he will take an official visit to Duke, his second visit after an unofficial one in August.
“Unless he’s unbelievably confused, I’m pretty sure he’s going to make a decision very quickly after he visits Duke,” Kelly Flagg said. “That way, he can put it behind him and focus on what he needs to do to get better.”
The early signing period for the NCAA runs from Nov. 8 to 15.
From what Boyle said to the Messenger, it sounds like Duke and UConn are the only two schools Flagg is considering.
“I would expect he will decide after the Duke visit in a reasonably short period,” Montverde head coach Kevin Boyle told The Messenger. “He’s seen both campuses and talked enough to both staffs that he can make a decision. He’s not looking for more attention. Let’s be honest, he’s getting enough of it already.”
Flagg is a 6-foot-9, 200-pound forward at Montverde Academy who reclassified from the class of 2025 to 2024 shortly before the season. Even with the reclassification, he is ranked as the No. 1 player in the class of 2024 and is widely regarded as the best player in high school basketball.
Cooper Flagg is taking his first official visit to reigning NCAA Men’s Basketball Champion UConn this weekend, according to On3.
Cooper Flagg, widely considered the top high school player in the nation, is making moves to realize his college decision. He has three scheduled visits this fall, according to a new report from On3, and the first one will be this weekend.
The 6-foot-9, 195-pound forward will visit reigning NCAA men’s basketball champion UConn this weekend, according to the outlet. The Huskies are hoping for yet another victory this year, and adding Flagg to their class of 2024 that already includes a pair of four-star players in Ahman Nowell and Isaiah Abraham would would raise their potential to stay atop once the class arrives.
Their not the only recent champion seeking the services of Flagg. The 2022 National Champion Kansas Jayhawks are also in pursuit and have a visit scheduled from Oct. 6-8, according to On3.
Kansas already has one top-tier commit in the class of 2024 in Flory Bidunga, a five-star center ranked No. 8 in the class.
Flagg rounds out his early-year visits with Duke, which he will visit from Oct. 20-22, according to On3. The Blue Devils already have a crazy good recruiting class in 2024, with a pair of five-star forwards in Isaiah Evans and Kon Knueppel and a four-star forward in Darren Harris. The Blue Devils will try to sell him on his fit with the group and amplify their star power even further.
While Flagg is taking his time to make visits and choose his next stop, he sped up the process considerably by reclassifying to the class of 2024 in August. He’ll get to see three programs over the next month and take another step toward his decision. These surely won’t be his only visits.
