Blue Devil Country

Cooper Flagg Exhibits Duke Basketball Captain Quality in Locker Room

At 17 years old, the Duke basketball phenom is undoubtedly an exemplary leader on and off the court.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball forward Cooper Flagg
Duke basketball forward Cooper Flagg / Rob Kinnan-Imagn Images
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Rather than zoom in on Isaiah Evans' instantly endearing celebrations following his six 3-point splashes in the first half of the statement-made Duke basketball squad's 84-78 home win over No. 2-ranked Auburn on Wednesday night, Duke Blue Devils On SI focused on long-cemented centerpiece freshman Cooper Flagg's reactions to his fellow 2024 McDonald's All-American's breakout show.

ALSO READ: Duke Guard Turns Jon Scheyer Blunder Into Dream Come True

When it comes to embracing the unavoidable centerpiece duty of binding Blue Devils together with sights fixed on the ultimate prize, perhaps that's where the 17-year-old is most beyond his years. In fact, one could argue that not even his piece-of-cake 22 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, three steals, two blocks, zero turnovers, and only two fouls in the win stack up to the manner in which he talked about Evans' night with absolute sincerity in the locker room:

"I mean, that's something you don't see every day — for real," Flagg affirmed to Duke Blue Devils On SI while most media members initially hovered around Evans, who now-famously arrived on the scene for the Blue Devils after not logging a single minute of action across Duke's 1-2 effort in its previous top-25 clashes against Kansas, Kentucky, and Arizona.

"A guy like Isaiah, who had an incredible high school career, to come in and not start how he would've hoped here, but just to stay ready and just work every single day, I mean, he's been one of the hardest workers on the team, for sure. For him to just stay ready and be ready for that moment, it takes a lot. So, just really proud of him, and I knew he had it in him."

Cooper Flagg seems to have it in himself to be a captain, as third-year Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer still hasn't confirmed any players in that leadership role for the 2024-25 Blue Devils.

Entrusting Flagg with that distinction would be unprecedented for a freshman in Durham. But so is everything else about him.

ALSO READ: Duke Recruiting Target Miikka Muurinen Eyeing Three Trips

Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI for more Duke basketball news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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