Blue Devil Country

Duke basketball: Masked five-star puts on show for Jon Scheyer

The Duke basketball coaches appear all in with "Capture the Flagg" efforts.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball: Masked five-star puts on show for Jon Scheyer
Duke basketball: Masked five-star puts on show for Jon Scheyer /
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Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff are in Arizona this weekend to scout premier talents at the Nike EYBL Session 2 while demonstrating their continued interest in prospects who already boast an offer from the Blue Devils.

On Friday night, Scheyer watched one of the top players on his wishlist, five-star 2025 power forward Cooper Flagg, dominate again. The Maine native, who attends Montverde Academy (Fla.) but plays his grassroots ball for Maine United, accounted for about 40 percent of his team's points in a 66-60 win over Team Final (Pa.).

He finished with 26 points, shooting 8-for-17 from the field and 10-for-10 from the charity stripe. The 6-foot-8, 195-pound wunderkind, whose unmatched confidence on both ends of the floor is evident seemingly every time he's on the court, added 13 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks in his 31 minutes of playing time.

In other words, the mere 16-year-old was everywhere again. His dominance looks almost effortless, despite now having to wear a protective mask.

Last Friday night, Scheyer witnessed Flagg, an admitted long-time Duke basketball fan, shine via a brilliant 52-point performance during Session 1 action in Georgia.

Through five games, Flagg is the leading scorer and swatter in the E16 division at 27.8 points and 4.2 blocks per outing. However, his scoring average is only 0.1 points higher than No. 2 on the list, Christopher Columbus High School (Fla.) and Nightrydas Elite (Fla.) five-star power forward Cameron Boozer.

Of course, Cameron Boozer and his twin brother, four-star combo guard Cayden Boozer, are also 2025 Duke basketball recruiting targets. Their father is 2001 Blue Devil national champ and two-time NBA All-Star power forward Carlos Boozer.

Cooper Flagg and the Boozer twins were the only players in the class with offers from Jon Scheyer for the past 11 months. But Lincoln Park (Pa.) five-star point guard Meleek Thomas joined that list earlier this week.

RELATED: Kentucky joins the mix for Duke's latest 2025 target

Thomas, also in Arizona this weekend, is one of the top weapons for the 5-0 New Heights Lightning (N.Y.) in EYBL play. He is the only 2025 Duke target playing in the highest age group.

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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