After five college games, basketball enthusiasts are beginning to see what Cooper Flagg is capable of. Currently, the 17-year-old Flagg—who should actually be a high school senior this year—is leading Duke in several categories: scoring (17.8), rebounding (8.8), assists (3.8), steals (1.8), and blocks (1.8).
While it’s still early in the season, his performance is quite remarkable. He’s making significant contributions across the board. Could he improve his shooting? Absolutely, and we’re confident he will.
Some aspects of a player’s impact can be quantified, while others, such as the ability to boost his teammates’ confidence simply through his presence, are harder to measure. Whenever help is needed—whether it’s for a rebound, a basket, a block, a steal, or a smart pass—Flagg is the go-to player.
Players with this kind of influence are rare. Duke has had a few, such as Zion Williamson during his freshman year, and Shane Battier stood out in his junior and senior years, though he took longer to reach that level than Flagg has. Danny Ferry also showcased this capability by his senior year.
It’s an uncommon talent, especially at 17. This level of play is reminiscent of Bill Walton at UCLA, although he wasn’t eligible as a freshman and few anticipated his future greatness.
Arizona’s Jaden Bradley offered insight on Flagg, noting, “He is tall, athletic, and can finish over many defenders. He’s extremely athletic. We managed to contain him early on, but then lost focus on our game plan, leading to lapses in communication that allowed him to exploit openings in our defense. He creates mismatch issues—if we put a smaller guard on him, he can overpower them inside; if a bigger player is tasked with guarding him, he can outpace them and shoot effectively.”
While this doesn’t encapsulate Flagg’s entire impact, it highlights the challenges he presents. He is rapidly improving and is just beginning to showcase his full potential.
