Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball: Dick Vitale Forecasts 'Hoops Hysteria' in Durham

The legendary ESPN commentator chimed in on Duke basketball signee Cooper Flagg.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Dick Vitale at a Duke basketball game
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Thursday was just another day at the office for future Duke basketball forward Cooper Flagg. The 6-foot-9, 200-pound five-star, a Maine native sitting atop the 247Sports 2024 Composite, helped Montverde Academy (Fla.) improve to 29-0 this season with an 83-58 win over Veritas Prep (Ariz.) at the Pete Hollis Showcase in Greenville, S.C.

Flagg, a lifelong Blue Devil enthusiast headlining Jon Scheyer's five-deep 2024 recruiting haul, finished his team-high 27 minutes on the floor with 15 points, seven rebounds, four steals, two blocks, and only one turnover while shooting 6-for-10 from the field and 3-for-3 at the charity stripe.

Once again, Flagg's highlights display an NBA-ready talent. So, it's no surprise the projected one-and-done is the early frontrunner to become the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2025.

Evidently, Flagg has caught the attention of longtime ESPN analyst and honorary "Cameron Crazie" Dick Vitale.

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In the following post, the 84-year-old college basketball treasure went as far as referring to the 17-year-old phenom as "better than advertised" and predicted Duke's famed student section will be in "HOOPS HYSTERIA" next season:

Three of Vitale's grandchildren, siblings Connor, Jake, and Ava Krug, will likely be in the stands often to experience the excitement. Twins Connor and Jake are currently juniors on the Blue Devils' tennis team, and Ava is a five-star 2024 prospect committed to the Duke women's tennis program.

Meanwhile, Cooper Flagg is part of the nation's No. 1 class. The collection features three more five-star talents in forward Isaiah Evans, forward Kon Knueppel, and center Patrick Ngongba, plus four-star wing Darren Harris.

Entire Blue Devil Class Gets Invited to Prep Showcase

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball recruiting 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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