Duke Basketball Recruiting: Cooper Flagg's Mom Wears Laettner Jersey

Duke basketball seems to have another momentum boost in the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes.
Photo credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
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On Monday, Montverde Academy (Fla.) small forward and longtime Duke basketball recruiting target Cooper Flagg posted pictures to Instagram of his family wearing Duke basketball jerseys while on his official visit with the Blue Devils this past weekend.

Flagg, an admitted Blue Devil enthusiast who now ranks No. 1 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite and appears to be nearing a decision in his recruitment, wears No. 32 for his prep team. That could have something to do with all-time Blue Devil legend Christian Laettner, whose No. 32 forever hangs from Cameron Indoor Stadium's rafters.

The five-star's mom, Kelly Flagg, fed that speculation in one pic by donning the No. 32 Duke basketball jersey while pointing to Laettner's name on the back (it's the seventh photo in the string of 10 below):

Also, it's worth pointing out that present, future, potential, and past Blue Devils, including reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero, litter the comment section under Flagg's post.

Altogether, the comments present a show of strength by "The Brotherhood" to help Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff prevail (over fellow contender UConn) in the high-profile race.

One comment that stands out is from Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) five-star shooting guard VJ Edgecombe, who was alongside Flagg and a third 2024 Duke basketball target in Paul VI Catholic (Va.) five-star center Patrick Ngongba II for the trio's official visit. Edgecombe asks, "Teammyyy?"

Given Scheyer's recruiting prowess — a top-two class in the nation in each of his first two cycles calling all the shots — it's certainly not unthinkable that Flagg, Edgecombe (ranks No. 6), and Ngongba (No. 25) could tag along in a haul that already includes two five-stars (Isaiah Evans and Kon Knueppel) and one four-star (Darren Harris), who also attended Countdown to Craziness.

Arguably, the best comments were from Blue Devil sophomore forwards Mark Mitchell ("I pledge allegiance") and Kyle Filipowski ("Ooolala").

Should Cooper Flagg commit to Duke, he would join RJ Barrett as the program's only two recruiting prizes in the 247Sports era with a perfect 1.0000 rating.

Duke Recruiting: Cooper Flagg Answers Cameron Crazies Call

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.