[autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag] brings the expectations of a generational talent to Durham for the 2024-25 Duke basketball season. In his first exhibition game against the Lincoln Lions on Saturday, Flagg made sure fans saw the hype within just a few minutes.
In a moment that invoked one of the best plays of LeBron James’ NBA career, Flagg tracked down Lincoln’s Freddie Young Jr. on a fast break and denied his layup effort, pinning the ball against the glass to withhold two points from the Lions.
Flagg scored Duke’s first points of the game on a short floater from the paint, and he blocked another Lincoln shot in the opening minutes. He scored 10 points in his first seven minutes on the floor, and he finished the first half with 13 points, six assists, and three rejections.
As the top player in the Class of 2024, Flagg didn’t lose a game as a senior at Montverde Academy. He attended Team USA Olympic training camp as a member of the Select Team, the only collegiate player in attendance, and ESPN gives him more than a 50% chance to be the first overall NBA draft pick next summer.;
COOP 🛑 (📺 ACCNX) pic.twitter.com/O9Dz8NBgb9
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) October 19, 2024