Duke Basketball: Prediction Pops up for Cooper Flagg Recruitment

Duke basketball's perceived advantage might have intimidated other schools.
Duke Basketball: Prediction Pops up for Cooper Flagg Recruitment
Duke Basketball: Prediction Pops up for Cooper Flagg Recruitment /
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Montverde Academy (Fla.) combo forward Cooper Flagg, who ranks No. 2 overall on the 247Sports 2025 Composite, has not named finalists in his recruitment or even hinted at a decision timeline. Nevertheless, his "dream school" talk about the Duke basketball program has led some to view the Blue Devils as a virtual lock to land him.

There are still no 247Sports Crystal Ball picks for Flagg. And perhaps there won't be anytime soon.

But on Friday night, after Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer watched the 6-foot-8, 195-pound five-star put on a show in a win by his Maine United squad at the Nike EYBL Session 2 in Arizona, Rivals' leading national insider, Rob Cassidy, entered the first Flagg prediction into that site's FutureCast.

It's in favor of the Blue Devils.

Then in a "recruiting whispers" article on Saturday, Cassidy, who was on hand in Arizona to see Scheyer check out Flagg once again, broke down his reasoning behind the prediction:

"There are fewer and fewer other coaches that seem to be actively recruiting the versatile forward, which makes it seem as though many programs are waving the white flag...There are no sure things in recruiting, but Blue Devil fans should feel incredibly confident about where things stand with Flagg, who is as rare a prospect as there is in the country."

Given Flagg's obvious talent, it is a bit surprising that he holds less than a dozen offers, with neither Kentucky nor UNC in the mix.

Also noteworthy, Cassidy seems to think there's an outside chance of Scheyer landing the prized recruit for his 2024 class:

"There was also some buzz about a possible reclassification to 2024 in the gym on Friday night, though nobody from Flagg's camp has confirmed such a rumor."

On that note, it's worth pointing out that Cooper Flagg, an admitted long-time Duke basketball enthusiast, turned 16 in December. So if he were to reclassify and enter college in 2024, he wouldn't turn 18 until midway through his freshman year. In other words, at least age-wise, he should be exactly where he is: in the 2025 class.

Of course, the fact he plays well beyond his years could factor into the equation.

The 2024 Duke basketball haul already includes two commits in Paul VI Catholic (Va.) four-star small forward Darren Harris and, as of Thursday night, North Meck (N.C.) five-star wing Isaiah Evans.

Meanwhile, on the 2025 trail, it's still too early to expect any commitments. That said, the possibility of the Blue Devils reeling in a pledge from a current high school sophomore at some point in the coming weeks or months shouldn't be entirely ruled out.

Scheyer and his gang have 2025 offers out to Cooper Flagg, Lincoln Park (Pa.) five-star point guard Meleek Thomas, and the Christopher Columbus High School (Fla.) Boozer twins in five-star power forward Cameron and four-star combo guard Cayden.

Flagg and the Boozers received their offers from the Blue Devils around this time last year. And Thomas joined the club last Sunday.

RELATED: Duke Enters the Fray for Top-Ranked Point Guard

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.