Cooper Flagg, the nation’s top high school player, commits to Duke

The No. 1 high school boys basketball player in the country is officially off the market. Cooper Flagg, who has been widely regarded as the best prospect in the nation, has chosen to play for the prestigious Duke Blue Devils next season. Standing at 6-foot-8, Flagg is a highly skilled forward who recently visited Duke for the event called “Countdown to Craziness.” Accompanied by other top recruits V.J. Edgecombe and Patrick Ngongba, Flagg made the decision to commit to Duke over reigning champions UConn.

This commitment is a massive win for Duke’s head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff. They had been pursuing Flagg since his sophomore year, and he himself had expressed his admiration for Duke as one of his dream schools. Scheyer showed unwavering dedication throughout the recruitment process and even attended Flagg’s AAU games, often being the only college head coach on the sidelines. Flagg spoke highly of Duke’s program, history, and culture, expressing excitement for what Scheyer and the team will achieve.

Under Scheyer’s leadership, Duke has been making impressive moves. After taking over from legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski last year, Scheyer led the Blue Devils to a 27-9 record and a victory in the ACC tournament. Duke’s success has continued with the addition of Flagg and the second-ranked recruiting class in the country, featuring five-star recruits Jared McCain and TJ Power, as well as four-stars Sean Stewart and Caleb Foster. As a result, Duke is currently ranked as the No. 2 team in the country according to the preseason Associated Press poll.

With Flagg’s commitment, Duke has secured the top recruiting class in the nation. Joining Flagg next season will be highly touted prospects Kon Knueppel, Isaiah Evans, and Darren Harris. Duke is also in contention for the No. 2 player in the country, Dylan Harper, as well as Edgecombe and Ngongba.

Flagg’s skills have been on full display during his senior season at Montverde Academy in Florida. He had an exceptional summer performance in Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball League, averaging remarkable numbers of 26.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 4.5 blocks per game for Maine United. Flagg showcased his talent at the Peach Jam tournament, catching the attention of none other than LeBron James himself, who was in attendance coaching his son, Bryce.

NBA scouts recognize Flagg as one of the most versatile and dominant players in high school basketball. His defensive abilities set him apart, making him a projected top prospect in his class. Flagg’s reclassification to the 2024 class has further increased his stock, and he is already considered the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. NBA franchises have been closely monitoring his progress, and there is anticipation around strategic moves being made to secure a chance at drafting him, similar to past pursuits of Victor Wembanyama.