Duke Drops One Post… and Cooper Flagg’s Future Just Got Way More Mysterious

Could the unthinkable actually happen? Could Cooper Flagg—arguably the most hyped college basketball player of the decade—not declare for the NBA Draft just yet?

That’s the burning question on fans’ minds after Duke Basketball’s official social media account dropped a seemingly casual post Friday afternoon. The post featured two sleek shots of Flagg throwing down powerful dunks in an empty practice gym. No flashy caption. No major announcement. Just Flagg, all alone on the court, doing what he does best.

But the internet picked up what Duke was putting down—or at least, what fans think they’re putting down.

Almost instantly, the comment sections exploded. Speculation took off like wildfire: Was this a hint? Could Flagg actually be coming back for a sophomore season?

Flagg, the 6-foot-9 freshman phenom who led Duke to a 35-4 record and a Final Four appearance, has long been projected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. With averages of 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists—not to mention taking home the prestigious Wooden Award—he’s done more than enough to secure his one-and-done legacy.

Even head coach Jon Scheyer recently said he wasn’t banking on Flagg returning. “No,” he admitted when asked if he’d try to convince his star to stay. “Although I can dream about that… I think he’s got to take the next dream in his life and be the top pick in the NBA draft.”

And yet… here we are.

With the NBA early entry deadline looming, the timing of the post has many wondering if there’s more going on behind the scenes. Was it just routine off-season content? Or is Duke subtly teasing a decision that could shake up college basketball?

Flagg has never hidden his love for Duke, and his competitive fire is legendary. Could he really be considering one more run in Durham?