Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Recruiting: Announcer Predicts Cooper Flagg to UConn

Not everyone projects Duke basketball to reel in Cooper Flagg this weekend.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball recruiting target Cooper Flagg (Stu Boyd II-USA TODAY Sports)
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During the broadcast of a preseason game between the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night, ESPN's Frank Isola, a Nets announcer on the YES Network, talked about priority 2024 Duke basketball recruiting target Cooper Flagg.

Hours earlier, Isola noted reports of reigning national champ UConn's strong standing against the Blue Devils as the presumed finalists battle for the No. 1 recruit. This time, he went one step further by forecasting Flagg, a 6-foot-9, 200-pound phenom forward and Maine Native who attends Montverde Academy (Fla.), to the Huskies.

"I'm going to make a prediction," Isola said. "He's going to play for Danny Hurley at UConn. If I'm wrong, don't hold me to that. It's just something I've heard."

So, who told Isola what? Well, he didn't say.

Meanwhile, many others, including all 14 insiders with entered picks in the 247Sports Crystal Ball, Rivals FutureCast, or On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, still predict second-year Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer will ultimately prevail.

Cooper Flagg, a lifelong fan of the Blue Devils whose favorite player is Duke basketball product Jayson Tatum, has been on an unofficial visit to Duke in early August and an official to UConn in late September. He'll return to Durham this weekend for an official, beginning with Countdown to Craziness in Cameron Indoor Stadium on Friday night.

The assumption is Flagg will decide on a winner between Duke and UConn shortly after this weekend's trip, as his mom, Kelly Flagg, recently suggested he probably would.

However, this past weekend, Flagg informed 247Sports' Travis Branham that he hasn't locked in such plans yet.

"I think I am just going to take my time and think about it," he told Branham, "continue just think about it and make a decision when I feel ready. I don't really have a timeframe yet."

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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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