Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball: Cooper Flagg Proves Too Slick for Highlight

Cooper Flagg's ball-hawking defense may well be what'll make the 2024-25 Duke basketball team click.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball forward Cooper Flagg
Duke basketball forward Cooper Flagg / Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
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The official 2024-25 Duke basketball roster recently updated Cooper Flagg's listing, now tagging the 6-foot-9, 205-pound stellar talent from Maine as a guard/forward after initially referring to the Montverde Academy (Fla.) product as just a forward.

That makes sense. After all, not only does Flagg have the requisite handles and passing skills to compete in the backcourt, but the mere 17-year-old also undoubtedly boasts the all-around defensive abilities to pose a threat at any position.

ALSO READ: Major 2025 Duke Recruiting Target Reveals Finalists

His perimeter defensive prowess and fast-break stride were on full display in the following posted highlight courtesy of the Duke basketball social media team this week. By coming out of nowhere to intercept a crosscourt pass while darting toward the other end of the floor for an easy score, Flagg left the camera operator having to playing catch-up to capture the phenom's breakaway two-handed dunk:

This marks the first official week of practice in Durham. However, Jon Scheyer's third batch of Blue Devils as head coach have been holding workouts in the Coach K Center practice facility for months.

Cooper Flagg, a projected one-and-done lottery pick as the forecasted No. 1 rookie in college hoops, is one of six Duke basketball freshmen, along with five-star guard/forward Kon Knueppel, five-star guard/forward Isaiah Evans, four-star guard/forward Darren Harris, five-star center Khaman Maluach, and five-star center Patrick Ngongba II.

All six, comprising the nation's top-ranked class, arrived in Durham this summer sitting among the top 40 on the 247Sports 2024 Composite.

ALSO READ: New Duke Sniper Torches Nets in Intrasquad Scrimmage

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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