Duke trainer Jon Scheyer secured in all probability the largest win of his occupation on Monday when five-star ahead Cooper Flagg, who ranks as the No. 1 general prospect in the 2024 recruiting cycle by means of 247Sports, dedicated to the Blue Devils. Flagg’s dedication now not simplest gives Scheyer and his training group of workers a big development block for the 2024-25 season, nevertheless it additionally jumps the Blue Devils to the No. 1 spot in the 247 Sports Class of 2024 Team Recruiting Rankings after completing the 2023 recruiting cycle with the No. 2 general class at the back of Kentucky.
Flagg is the 3rd No. 1 general prospect in Duke’s historical past and is he considered one of the extra polished and heralded highschool avid gamers in contemporary reminiscence. The 6-foot-8 ahead out of Montverde (Florida) Academy, dedicated to the Blue Devils over reigning nationwide champion UConn. Flagg took simplest two legitimate visits right through his recruiting procedure and canceled his legitimate discuss with to Kansas in early October.
“I think after I got on campus at Duke, I really started to feel it, to be honest,” Flagg instructed SLAM in an editorial explaining his determination. “… [I knew then] I wanted to go to Duke and that’s where I wanted to play college basketball. What went into the decision, I mean, I was just looking for a coaching staff I was really comfortable with, but [also] a coach and staff that was really going to hold me accountable. Being on the visit, I got to see them in practice, and see how they were holding their guys accountable, and really pushing them to be better. For me, ever since I was a little kid, I always had dreams of playing Division I basketball at the highest level. Especially with a place like Duke, once we got to campus, we felt it.”
Flagg joins a Duke recruiting class that already options 3 top-60 possibilities in five-star ahead Isaiah Evans, five-star ahead Kon Knueppel and four-star ahead Darren Harris. The Blue Devils also are in competition to land five-star guard Dylan Harper, five-star ahead VJ Edgecombe and four-star heart Patrick Ngongba ll as the early signing duration nears.
Originally the No. 2 general prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, Flagg reclassified up in order to be eligible for the 2025 NBA Draft. Flagg must play faculty basketball right through the 2024-25 season — or differently be 12 months got rid of from highschool — in order to be draft-eligible in 2025 below NBA laws. Because of his December 2006 birthday, he’s simply sufficiently old to be an eligible for the draft.
Here are a couple of takeaways from Flagg’s dedication and what it approach for the Blue Devils.
How Flagg suits at Duke
Flagg is the easiest two-way prospect in the nation and the top general highschool participant in America regardless of class or place. Flagg must are compatible in straight away with the Blue Devils as a result of he’s an engaged defender that makes use of his measurement to dam photographs round the rim and he crashes the forums arduous on each ends. On offense, Flagg has proven he generally is a three-level scorer and has a killer intuition that makes him one of the extra intriguing possibilities in a while. Although Flagg initiatives as an influence ahead in faculty and at the subsequent point, he’s extra of a prototypical trendy wing that may perform as point-forward and an offensive hub in any offense. Duke has landed masses of blue-chip possibilities over the years, however it is simple to make the argument that Flagg ranks close to the top as one of the easiest recruiting wins in program historical past.
Here’s 247Sports’ Adam Finkelstein on his personal analysis of the newly-committed Duke big name from this summer time after he grew into one of the easiest possibilities in the international:
Cooper Flagg is an elite two-way prospect. His instincts are off the charts on each ends of the ground and he competes with a quiet kind of killer intuition. He’s a defensive standout and specifically dominant as an off-ball defender. In truth, he is as just right of an underclassman shot-blocker as I’ve observed at his measurement. Offensively, he is a very good passer with a just right basis of early talent and creating playmaking skill. His footwork is very good. His taking pictures and dealing with each just right and often making improvements to. He does not essentially want to be the point of interest on that finish of the ground, however he is proven he is masses succesful of it. Physically, body’s Flagg is cast sufficient to soak up touch now and can simplest upload further muscle tissue in the coming years.
Joining unique corporate
The Blue Devils have landed two earlier No. 1 general possibilities in the 247Sports generation. The first was once Marvin Bagley lll in the 2017 recruiting cycle after he reclassified up to sign up for the Blue Devils for the 2017-18 season to sign up for 3 different five-star possibilities in Trevon Duval, Wendell Carter and Gary Trent Jr. The 2d No. 1 participant got here the following 12 months when Duke landed RJ Barrett from the 2018 cycle. Duke completed that 12 months with the No. 1 general class after touchdown Barrett, Cam Reddish, Zion Williamson and Tre Jones. The 2024 class is shaping as much as be the easiest in the Scheyer generation and it indicators the Blue Devils will probably be simply fantastic on the recruiting path even with out mythical trainer Mike Krzyzewski.
All eyes flip to Harper
With Flagg off the board, the best possible uncommitted prospect in the 2024 class is Harper, who these days holds more than one Crystal Ball predictions to Rutgers from 247Sports. Harper may be taking into consideration Duke, Indiana, Auburn and Kansas. The race for the No. 1 general class in the nation seems to desire Duke heading into the early signing duration, however the program that is in a position to protected the services and products of the top guard in the class may have the easiest probability of competing with the Blue Devils for the top spot. Rutgers already has a dedication from Ace Bailey, the No. 3 general participant in the class and pairing him with Harper would no doubt permit the Scarlet Knights to complete with their best possible ranked recruiting class in program historical past.
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