Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Phenom's Twin Brother Staying Home for College

Next year, Ace Flagg will play for this season's first Duke basketball opponent.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball forward Cooper Flagg
Duke basketball forward Cooper Flagg / Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images
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It would have added to the hype if Ace Flagg, who announced his home-state college commitment on Tuesday evening, was on the Maine roster for the Duke basketball regular season opener at home against the Bears at 7 p.m. ET Monday (ACC Network).

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Of course, Blue Devil fans also might've been delighted to see the twin brother of Cooper Flagg, the current freshman centerpiece forward in Durham and projected one-and-done top overall draft pick, suit up for Jon Scheyer someday.

But unlike Cooper Flagg, now on track to become the second-youngest college player ever drafted, per ESPN's Jonathan Givony, Ace Flagg will be at the midpoint of his senior year at Greensboro Day School (N.C.) when the twins from Maine turn 18 on Dec. 21.

Cooper was initially in the same class as Ace but ultimately reclassified. Obviously, that made sense given the fact that he's just old enough — and undoubtedly sufficiently advanced for his age on the court — to be eligible for the 2025 NBA Draft.

Plus, although Ace Flagg was alongside his brother and fellow lifelong Blue Devil enthusiast for a Duke basketball visit coinciding with last year's Countdown to Craziness before returning to Durham to check out this year's edition on Oct. 4, he never reported an offer from Scheyer's recruiting team in Durham.

Ace Flagg, who played alongside Cooper Flagg at prep powerhouse Montverde Academy (Fla.) last season before transferring to Greensboro Day School for his senior campaign, is a 6-foot-7, 180-pound savvy forward boasting a three-star rating in the eyes of Rivals and ESPN but has neither a rating nor ranking by his name on 247Sports and On3. According to ESPN, he ranks No. 45 among small forwards in the cycle and No. 2 overall in North Carolina.

He held offers from Maine, West Virginia, Richmond, Florida Gulf Coast, St. Joseph's, and George Washington.

Perhaps the Duke basketball program will work out another meeting with Maine in the coming years for a Flagg reunion, of sorts, in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

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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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