Blue Devil Country

Showdown: Cooper Flagg Facing Son of Duke Basketball Legend

Incoming Duke basketball star Cooper Flagg must defeat the Boozer twins to remain undefeated as a senior prep.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball signee Cooper Flagg
Duke basketball signee Cooper Flagg / Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
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In the opening round of the Chipotle Nationals on Thursday, 2025 Duke basketball recruiting target and potential 2026 No. 1 overall draft pick Cameron Boozer tallied 20 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and four blocks to lead No. 5 seed Columbus High School (Fla.) to a 71-58 victory over No. 4 seed Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.).

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On the same court in Indiana a few hours later, 2024 Duke basketball recruiting prize Cooper Flagg, who ranks No. 1 overall among current high school seniors but sat below Boozer on the 247Sports 2025 Composite before reclassifying, powered No. 1 seed and undefeated Montverde Academy (Fla.) to a 64-49 win over No. 8 seed Compass Prep (Ariz.).

Flagg, a long-limbed phenom with all the tools to shine as a Blue Devil centerpiece next season, finished with 16 points, seven boards, three dimes, and three steals in 31 minutes on the floor.

Now, the stage is set for a semifinal showdown between the five-star forwards at 4:30 p.m. ET Friday. Fans can watch Cameron Boozer, son of 2001 Blue Devil national champ Carlos Boozer and twin brother of a fellow 2025 Duke target in five-star guard Cayden Boozer, square off against Cooper Flagg on ESPN2.

The winner could face two Duke signees in the championship bout at noon Saturday, also on ESPN2. That would require No. 2 seed Paul VI Catholic, a budding Blue Devil pipeline school featuring five-star center Patrick Ngongba II and four-star wing Darren Harris this year, to prevail in its semifinal matchup against No. 6 seed and defending national champion Link Academy (Mo.) at 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI 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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