Photo credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
NBA Scouts Set to Eye Prized Duke Basketball Signee Cooper Flagg
NBA scouts are permitted to attend only a handful of high school events this season. The first on that slate is this weekend's Scholastic Showcase Games in Las Vegas. It includes a showdown between Montverde Academy (Fla.), featuring Duke basketball recruiting prize and top-ranked 2024 forward Cooper Flagg, and Link Academy (Mo.).
The highly anticipated matchup, pitting the No. 1 prep squad in the country, per ESPN, against No. 3 Link Academy, tips off on Friday at 11 p.m. ET (ESPNU).
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Link Academy boasts Texas signee Tre Johnson, a five-star guard who ranks No. 4 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite. That's not to mention several other heralded prospects, including a future UNC center in four-star 2024 Tar Heel signee James Brown.
As usual, the Montverde Academy roster also has high-major prospects galore.
And Cooper Flagg is fresh off another beyond-his-years performance with his court-commanding 23 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists in Saturday night's 88-39 Sunshine Classic home win over Sunrise Christian Academy (Kan.), which produced current Duke basketball sophomore forward Mark Mitchell.
On Friday night, Flagg posted 22 points, eight boards, seven dimes, and three steals in his team's 89-61 victory over Columbus High School (Fla.) and its pair of five-star 2025 sensations in prime Blue Devil targets Cayden and Cameron Boozer.
There's no doubt Flagg, a projected one-and-done collegian who turns 17 on Dec. 21, is the early favorite to hear his name No. 1 overall at the 2025 NBA Draft. On Friday night, he'll see his first opportunity of the season to live up to that billing with pro scouts on hand.
Flagg is one of five 2024 Duke basketball signees forming the nation's premier haul.
Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball recruiting news.