Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Recruiting: Cooper Flagg's Mom Silences Some Rumors

The Duke basketball target's mother is a machine at keeping folks in check.

Matt Giles

Duke Basketball Recruiting: Cooper Flagg's Mom Silences Some Rumors
Duke Basketball Recruiting: Cooper Flagg's Mom Silences Some Rumors /
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Montverde Academy (Fla.) small forward Cooper Flagg may or may not reclassify from 2025 to 2024 before it's all said and done. Should he do so, the priority Duke basketball recruit is just old enough — and undoubtedly talented enough — to be a one-and-done collegian drafted in 2025.

RELATED: List of Every Recruit Holding a Blue Devil Offer

But according to recent point-blank responses that his mom, Kelly Flagg, used to shut down the imminent-reclass chatter on social media, the 16-year-old phenom isn't currently looking to make that move.

To a reporter from his home state of Maine posting on Thursday night that "multiple people" told him "Cooper Flagg is preparing to reclassify to the class of 2024," Kelly Flagg noted, "Also untrue."

She gave the same two-word response to this post:

Meanwhile, the Flagg camp has been dealing with a denied-from-both-sides report of beef between him and three-time NBA All-Star Bradley Beal stemming from an apparent made-up story of a one-on-one battle at the Jayson Tatum Elite Camp two weeks ago.

Speaking into his mic while on the court at Steph Curry's camp on Friday night, Cooper Flagg quashed that rumor once or all:

Then his mom wrote, "There you have it, folks."

Since Thursday, in light of Cooper Flagg and his family's visit to Duke this week (the first visit anywhere in his recruitment), the first four 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions have popped up for the 6-foot-8, 200-pound versatile five-star. All four point to the Blue Devils as the outright frontrunner, aligning with all five Rivals FutureCast picks.

Again, remember that, at least for now, neither he, his mom, nor anyone else from his family has publicly indicated any reason he might rush into his decision.

Nevertheless, it's worth eyeing the photos that Flagg, an admitted longtime Duke basketball enthusiast who ranks No. 2 overall on the 247Sports 2025 Composite, posted on Instagram of his Blue Devil jersey photo shoot from his trip to Durham:

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Of course, one can see in the comments to the post that his mom was there to ensure nobody mistook it for something more than it was.

"Not a commitment post," she pointed out. "Just the pics from the visit. Settle down, folks."

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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