Cooper Flagg can make NCAAB history with 2025 Naismith Trophy nomination

Young forward Cooper Flagg hadn’t played a single minute of college basketball, and people were already talking about him being the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Fast forward to today, and that narrative hasn’t changed one bit. He’s averaged 18.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game for the season, leading his team in all major categories.

That’s why it’s not a surprise to see the Duke Blue Devils star being a finalist for the 2025 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year. As reported by Kevin Barbo of Athlon Sports, winning the award would make him a part of a very exclusive club.

Cooper Flagg can join a very exclusive club

“If Flagg were to win the award, he’d become just the fourth men’s basketball player to win the award as a freshman, joining Kevin Durant (2007), Anthony Davis (2012) and Zion Williamson (2019),” wrote Borba. “Counting the women’s side, he would also become the fifth freshman to ever win the award, as UConn’s Paige Bueckers won the award for her stellar 2021 season.”

Cooper Flagg #2 of the Duke Blue Devils

Needless to say, that’s a very elite group of players to be a part of. And if that’s a predictor for success in the pros, then Flagg is going to be an NBA star in no time at all.

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Of course, he needs to win the award first, but judging by the way he’s played this season and his unmatched popularity, it would be very difficult to bet against him right now.