After one of the most electrifying freshman seasons in recent college basketball history, Cooper Flagg is gearing up for the NBA—and Duke is making sure everyone knows just how special he is.
The 6-foot-9 superstar averaged 19.2 points per game over 37 appearances, leading Duke to a Final Four run that ended in a narrow 70–67 loss to Houston. But even in defeat, Flagg’s brilliance was undeniable.
He swept nearly every major award on the board:
National College Player of the Year
Lute Olson Award
NABC Freshman of the Year
Julius Erving Award
On Tuesday, Duke capped off his legendary one-and-done season with a three-word tribute on social media:
“3 ball gains @Cooper_Flagg”
The post included a graphic revealing a stat that has NBA scouts buzzing. Flagg’s three-point shooting surged from 25% in the first half of the season to a stunning 47.2% in the second half. His off-the-dribble shooting? A ridiculous jump from 22.2% to 50%.
In his final college game, Flagg went out with a bang—27 points, seven rebounds, and 3-of-4 shooting from deep. And in the Sweet 16, he delivered one of the tournament’s top performances with 30 points and three long-range bombs in a thrilling 100–93 win over Arizona.
With the NBA Draft Lottery set for May 12, teams like the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, and Charlotte Hornets—each holding a 14% chance at the top pick—are praying for the chance to draft him.
Based on what we’ve seen, they might be getting the most hyped NBA prospect since a kid named LeBron James.
