Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball: One Recruit Could Help Blue Devils Avoid Transfers

A commitment from Cooper Flagg could have the power to be Duke basketball's answer to anything and everything.

Matt Giles

Duke Basketball: One Recruit Could Help Blue Devils Avoid Transfers
Duke Basketball: One Recruit Could Help Blue Devils Avoid Transfers /
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One byproduct of a potential Duke basketball recruiting win in its battle for Montverde Academy (Fla.) phenom forward Cooper Flagg might be a repeat of the Blue Devils welcoming back every player who doesn't graduate or turn pro early in the spring.

RELATED: Another Prediction Appears in Cooper Flagg Sweepstakes

At least that's what 247Sports' Isaac Trotter opined on Friday in assessing the three schools set to host Flagg for an official fall visit: Duke, Kansas, and UConn. As Trotter explained, the plus side of having the Flagg show in Durham next year could extend beyond just adding the No. 1 prospect on the 247Sports 2024 Composite.

If Duke, Flagg's favorite as a kid, comes out on top in the high-profile sweepstakes, his advanced playmaking abilities, not to mention the bright lights his spellbinding skills attract, could be far more attractive than annoying to young Blue Devils like Jaden Schutt, TJ Power, and Sean Stewart, who aren't projected as 2024 draft picks:

"Can Duke keep promising pieces like Schutt, Power, and Stewart out of the transfer portal even if they're off-the-bench role players for one of the best teams in the country? Maybe Flagg is a part of the solution to all of this. Make no mistake, Flagg is a megastar. But he's a willing passer who has showcased an unselfish gene for years."

Trotter continued:

"Flagg's connect-the-dots brilliance can get the best out of certified snipers like Schutt and Power while forming a barbed wire fence around the rim with a 6-foot-8 monster like Stewart. The benefit of playing with Flagg could be more alluring than a ticked-up usage rate somewhere else."

It's worth noting that Stewart played backup to Flagg at Montverde last season. And judging by the picture Stewart posted on social media from Flagg's recent unofficial visit to Durham, they remain close.

Duke basketball was the only high-major program in the country that didn't lose a single player to the transfer portal this offseason, an increasingly impressive feat these days due to first-time transfers no longer having to sit out a year coupled with the appeal of potentially sweeter NIL deals elsewhere.

That feat was undoubtedly instrumental in second-year Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer constructing a 2023-24 roster that figures to sit among the top three on the preseason AP Top 25.

Regardless of who leaves next year, should Cooper Flagg commit to Scheyer, one might say it's a safe bet that's also where the program will begin the 2024-25 campaign.

The Blue Devils have two 2024 pledges on board: Paul VI Catholic (Va.) four-star small forward Darren Harris, No. 68 overall in the class, and North Meck (N.C.) five-star small forward Isaiah Evans, No. 20.

RELATED: Future Blue Devil Sharpshooter Gets Disrespected in Rankings

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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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