Cooper Flagg already appears like a lock to be the No. 1 general decide within the 2025 NBA Draft. The 17-year-old from Maine has enrolled at Duke after stamping himself as the highest highschool participant within the nation no matter class, and he’s poised to turn into faculty basketball’s greatest one-and-done star since Zion Williamson. Flagg’s arrival to the NBA was already going to be a celebrated affair, however the hype is reaching new ranges after his standout exhibiting with USA Basketball.
Flagg continues to be solely 17 years previous after reclassifying to primarily skip his senior yr of highschool, however that didn’t cease USA Basketball from inviting him to apply in opposition to the senior males’s nationwide workforce forward of the 2024 Paris Olympics. With LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, and extra on the ground as opponents, Flagg didn’t simply maintain his personal in opposition to the highest gamers on the earth — he thrived.
Flagg reportedly took over Monday afternoon apply with a convincing show of shot-making, hustle performs, and defensive versatility. The nationwide workforce solely beat to the choose workforce by one level, 74-73, and it was the youngest participant in attendance main the best way.
Watch this sequence from Flagg, the place he hits a tricky three over a contest from Anthony Davis, sprints the ground to assist cease Davis on a transition alternative, then sprints again to crash the glass and get a putback.
Right here’s one other three-pointer from Flagg over the outstretch arm of Davis from the nook. Flagg’s capturing, not usually regarded as one of many strongest elements of his sport, is wanting superior in opposition to the longest and most athletic defenders on the planet.
Flagg is simply so huge at 6’10 that he can overwhelm smaller opponents inside. Watch him dart into the lane on a reduce, get a mismatch with Jrue Vacation, and hit a turnaround in his face.
What number of gamers within the NBA can actually name Vacation a “mismatch” even with a dimension benefit? Flagg has the sort of quick polish and long-term upside to make it virtually appear cheap.
Flagg has so many issues going for him as a prospect. He has legit NBA dimension (listed at 6’9, 205 lbs by Duke), spectacular run and leap athleticism, a excessive motor, and a robust really feel for the sport. He’s a strong shooter, an excellent passer, and is aware of the way to transfer off the ball. Defensively, he’s mild on his ft guarding the perimeter, and has nice instincts as a assist defender. There will probably be rising pains for anybody as younger as Flagg as they go up a stage — he went flip 18 years previous till Dec. — but it surely’s wanting an increasing number of like he’ll stay as much as the hype.
The reporters in attendance who have been getting their first actual have a look at him got here away undeniably impressed.
Cooper Flagg, that dude
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) July 8, 2024
Cooper Flagg is the actual deal, and the league is already making ready for his arrival as mediocre groups just like the Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets have began to bottom-out. Whereas the race on the high of the league will probably be thrilling this season with so many contenders in each conferences, the bottom-feeders making ready for a sport of Seize the Flagg all season lengthy will probably be fascinating in its personal proper.
