Blue Devil Country

Blueblood Challenges Duke Basketball Authority in Cooper Flagg Race

Not every powerhouse is conceding Cooper Flagg to the Duke basketball gang.

Matt Giles

Blueblood Challenges Duke Basketball Authority in Cooper Flagg Race
Blueblood Challenges Duke Basketball Authority in Cooper Flagg Race /
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Over the weekend, Rivals' Rob Cassidy opined that the Duke basketball staff might have scared off other big-time programs from entering the fray for Montverde Academy (Fla.) sophomore Cooper Flagg due to the 6-foot-8, 195-pound five-star combo forward's confessed deep appreciation of all things Blue Devils.

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Flagg, a remarkably advanced all-around prospect who ranks No. 2 on the 247Sports 2025 Composite, has gone as far as to say he's partly modeled his game after former Duke basketball stars Grayson Allen and Jayson Tatum. So he's seemed thrilled to be on Jon Scheyer's wishlist since landing the historically early Blue Devil offer last May.

Amid all the growing hype in favor of Duke, though, the 16-year-old Cooper Flagg reported an offer from Kansas head coach Bill Self on Monday via the following tweet (in the comments, he noted his intention to write "receive" rather than "revive"):

Flagg's offer sheet still contains fewer suitors than one might expect for a talent of his caliber at this stage in his recruitment. But Kansas now joins Duke and UCLA as the bonafide bluebloods officially in the mix.

Even so, one would be hard-pressed to find any college coach who has already watched him more or made him a bigger priority than Scheyer. In the past two weekends, Duke basketball coaches have secured front-row seats at Nike EYBL events to see Flagg again cause jaws to drop on both ends of the floor.

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A decision seems unlikely to come anytime soon. After all, players in his class cannot begin taking official visits until August, and recruiters are not allowed to contact them directly until June 15.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country for more Duke basketball recruiting updates.

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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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