Long before he committed to play for Duke, Cooper Flagg was already the most talked-about player in <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/college-basketball">college basketball</a>. Then, his scrimmage with Team USA ahead of the Olympics only made him more popular.



Things haven’t changed much since the start of the season. The big forward has excelled in almost every aspect of the game, with his three-point shooting being the only disappointing thing so far.



Nevertheless, he’s far from the only star in the college hoops scene right now. As a matter of fact, a young guard out of Marquette might be challenging <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cooper-flagg">Flagg</a> for the top spot in the rankings.



<h2>Experts rave about Kam Jones</h2>



At least, that’s how hosts from renowned college basketball podcast The Field of 86: After Dark, feel. In the latest episode, they called Marquette guard Kam Jones the best guard in college basketball, and they believe he can go up there with Flagg if we talk about all players:



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241210_BUS_289782_Kam-Jones-1024x576_9b61d75b.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="" class="wp-image-289793" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/10081730/Kam-Jones-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/10081730/Kam-Jones-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/10081730/Kam-Jones-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/10081730/Kam-Jones-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/10081730/Kam-Jones-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/10081730/Kam-Jones-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/10081730/Kam-Jones-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/10081730/Kam-Jones.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Kam Jones #1 of the Marquette Golden Eagles walks backcourt during a game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Fiserv Forum on December 07, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Marquette defeated Wisconsin 88-74.</figcaption></figure>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“I think the better question is the best player in college basketball, forget about the best guard,” Jeff Goodman stated. “You can right now put Kam Jones, I think, in a class with Johni Broome and Cooper Flagg as the three best players so far in college basketball this season, and Kam Jones might be no.1 for me.”“I was worried about Marquette going to the season I didn’t rank him pre-season top 25 because without Tyler Kolek I didn’t know if Kam Jones would be able to handle this, but he’s more than shown he can handle it,” he added.</blockquote>


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Jones is currently averaging almost seven assists per game, and he’s scored 20 points in all games this season. Marquette only has one loss for the year, and they will be a sneaky team come March, for sure.

NCAAB News: Surprising player challenges Cooper Flagg for top spot

NCAAB News: Surprising player challenges Cooper Flagg for top spot - Bolavip US

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Long before Cooper Flagg announced his commitment to Duke, the Montverde Academy product was already the most talked-about non-NBA player in the nation.



He’s not expected to be in college for more than a year, but that doesn’t mean he won’t have more than enough time to make an everlasting impact on the Blue Devils.



As a matter of fact, even though he hasn’t been in Durham for long, he’s already tied a record shared by two program legends: Zion Williamson and Shelden Williams. 



<h2>Cooper Flagg ties Duke Record</h2>



With his 22 points, eleven rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks over the No. 2 Auburn Tigers on Wednesday, he had his second 20-point, ten-rebound, two-block outing as a Bluke Devils.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241207_BUS_288299_Cooper-Flagg1-1024x576_0b9aeced.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="" class="wp-image-287062" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151108/Cooper-Flagg1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151108/Cooper-Flagg1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151108/Cooper-Flagg1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151108/Cooper-Flagg1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151108/Cooper-Flagg1-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151108/Cooper-Flagg1-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151108/Cooper-Flagg1-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151108/Cooper-Flagg1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption> Duke Blue Devils guard Cooper Flagg (2) crashes the boards on a free throw attempt during the NCAA Basketball game between the Seattle Redhawks and the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. Greg Atkins CSM</figcaption></figure>



He had already done it in early November when he had 26 points, eleven boards, and two swats against Kentucky, joining Williams and Williamson as the only Blue Devils to log at least two games of that kind in the past 40 years. Needless to say, his coach had nothing but positive things to say about him.



<h2>Jon Scheyer praises Flagg’s work ethic </h2>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“He’s always wanting to get better in every aspect of his game,” Jon Scheyer said. “I like the strength that he’s playing with. I’ve always felt like Cooper’s a one-time guy. He only needs to see something one time to get adjusted. I saw that with him with [Team] USA, and I saw that in high school when he had tough moments.”</blockquote>


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Duke’s schedule will get slightly easier up next, as they won’t face another ranked team until early January, opening up the door for Flagg to keep adding to this impressive tally.

NCAAB News: Cooper Flagg ties epic Zion Williamson record at Duke

NCAAB News: Cooper Flagg ties epic Zion Williamson record at Duke - Bolavip US

The Duke Blue Devils knew they needed to be almost perfect if they wanted to beat Auburn. That’s when Cooper Flagg, the hottest name in all of <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/college-basketball" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">college basketball</a>, stepped up.



The combo forward out of Montverde Academy was in his bag all night long. He finished the game with 22 points (a game-high), adding 11 rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks.



Even though the Tigers tried to be physical with him and disrupt his rhythm, the Blue Devils still won 84-78. That’s why Auburn coach Bruce Pearl had no choice but to tip his hat to the projected No. 1 pick.



<h2>Auburn coach praises Cooper Flagg</h2>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“Cooper Flagg, I think this was one of his better games tonight,” Pearl said. “He didn’t have a turnover, so we didn’t bother him enough. He lived at the foul line. He gets a great whistle, he’s a great player. We’ve got good players too.”</blockquote>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241205_BUS_287134_Cooper-Flagg-1-1024x576_aedf9c08.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="" class="wp-image-287061" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151100/Cooper-Flagg-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151100/Cooper-Flagg-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151100/Cooper-Flagg-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151100/Cooper-Flagg-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151100/Cooper-Flagg-1-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151100/Cooper-Flagg-1-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151100/Cooper-Flagg-1-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151100/Cooper-Flagg-1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Duke Blue Devils guard Cooper Flagg (2) crashes the boards on a free throw attempt during the NCAA, College League, USA Basketball game between the Seattle Redhawks and the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Pearl lauds Johni Broome’s impact</h2>



All in all, the coach also wanted his best player to get his flowers. Even in the loss, star big man Johni Broome made a big impact, pacing his team with 20 points and 12 rebounds:



“One of the reasons our team has played so well this year is that Johni has been a tremendously consistent player,” Pearl said. “He’s clearly a Player of the Year candidate. If our team continues to win, he’s our best player. He’s been really, really consistent. And he’s able to do it on both ends, inside and out.”


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The Blue Devils will look to keep the momentum going, and with these kinds of performances, Flagg will continue to sit atop most mock drafts and rankings as the season progresses.

NCAAB News: Auburn coach gets honest on 'unbothered' Cooper Flagg

NCAAB News: Auburn coach gets honest on 'unbothered' Cooper Flagg - Bolavip US

The Duke Blue Devils have the best player in <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/college-basketball" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">college basketball</a> right now. Cooper Flagg has been deemed as the first-overall pick in the NBA Draft for years, and while he hasn’t been perfect in Durham, the potential is evident.



That showed up again in the win over Auburn. The talented forward showcased his entire repertoire, took over the game, and scored 22 points to hand the Tigers their first loss of the season.



Of course, everybody expects Duke to run most of their action through their coveted player. Nevertheless, coach Jon Scheyer doesn’t want him to do all the heavy lifting.



<h2>Jon Scheyer doesn’t want Cooper Flagg to win on his own</h2>



“We put enough on him (Cooper Flagg) in the 37 minutes and it can’t just be him,” the coach said. “For me, coaching this team, I think maybe we got a little stagnant in the end of those games (losses). We have other really good players too.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241205_BUS_287077_Cooper-Flagg-1-1024x576_f36177af.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="" class="wp-image-287061" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151100/Cooper-Flagg-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151100/Cooper-Flagg-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151100/Cooper-Flagg-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151100/Cooper-Flagg-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151100/Cooper-Flagg-1-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151100/Cooper-Flagg-1-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151100/Cooper-Flagg-1-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/05151100/Cooper-Flagg-1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Duke Blue Devils guard Cooper Flagg (2) crashes the boards on a free throw attempt during the NCAA, College League, USA Basketball game between the Seattle Redhawks and the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina</figcaption></figure>



<h2>He still wants Flagg to be a factor</h2>



Needless to say, that doesn’t mean they’re not going to make the most of his unique skills. Even if it’s as a decoy, Flagg will continue to be at the forefront of what they do: 



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“You wanna get movement. But, look, at the end of the day you still want Cooper to touch it because Cooper’s gonna find the right guy,” Scheyer said. “We spend a lot of time on game situations, too. So, knowing what we’re gonna do where it’s not just calling something random. Being in those moments is helpful, but also getting some movement and then getting into our action and Cooper touching it. I think that’s the balance we have to strike.”</blockquote>


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The Blue Devils made a big statement in the win over the Tigers. Conference play will start soon, and it’ll be interesting to see how the projected No. 1 pick deals with the pressure.

NCAAB News: Jon Scheyer makes worrisome admission about Cooper Flagg

NCAAB News: Jon Scheyer makes worrisome admission about Cooper Flagg - Bolavip US

There were high hopes and expectations for the Duke Blue Devils entering this season. <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cooper-flagg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cooper Flagg</a>, the undisputed No. 1 prospect in <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/college-basketball" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">college basketball</a>, had all eyes on him long before he announced his commitment.



Then again, things haven’t been as smooth in Durham so far. Duke is 5-2 to start the season, including tough losses to No. 4 Kentucky and No. 1 Kansas. Moreover, Flagg had some miscues in crucial times in both of the losses.



Then again, the 17-year-old, who’s projected to be the first-overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, isn’t too bothered because of that. If anything, he knows it’s all a part of the learning process.



<h2>Cooper Flagg talks about Duke’s issues</h2>



“I think for us, it’s just about experience,” Flagg said. “We have some people, me included, that haven’t been in these types of situations before. So we’re just going to keep learning, keep doing our best. We trust each other, we trust the plays coach is calling. It just comes down to us executing and getting the shots that we want. And just comes with experience.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241203_BUS_285150_Cooper-Flagg-1024x576_fff1cc84.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Cooper Flagg" class="wp-image-284788" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/Cooper-Flagg-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/Cooper-Flagg-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/Cooper-Flagg-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/Cooper-Flagg-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/Cooper-Flagg-740x416.jpg 740w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/Cooper-Flagg-490x275.jpg 490w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/Cooper-Flagg-250x140.jpg 250w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/Cooper-Flagg.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>NCAA, College League, USA Basketball 2024: Seattle vs Duke NOV 29 November 29, 2024: Duke Blue Devils guard Cooper Flagg (2) catches a lob during the NCAA Basketball game between the Seattle Redhawks and the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. Greg Atkins CSM </figcaption></figure>



Duke veteran guard Tyrese Proctor had similar thoughts about this issue. As much as people will point the finger at the star, it takes a team effort to get the job done:



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“Everyone keeps talking about the turnovers and Cooper turning it over,” Proctor said. “I mean, it’s a sum of the whole game. We’re missing rebounds. We’re not getting back in D transition. That leads to turnovers that result in points. But, end of the game, we trust them to have the ball in their hands. We know they can make a play.”</blockquote>



<h2>Jon Scheyer wants Duke to play with toughness</h2>



The Blue Devils rallied late to get a 22-point win over Seattle on Friday night. Nevertheless, coach Jon Scheyer believes the game should’ve never been close to begin with:



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“I just thought we were really soft in the first half,” Scheyer said after the win. “They were more physical with us. That’s two games in a row. They came out more physical than us on defense. We were softer. I thought we were rushing shots. We had too many turnovers. We need to finish stronger, drive stronger, make extra passes.”</blockquote>


 

 


Duke will now square off with No. 2 Auburn on Wednesday night. The Tigers are undefeated after seven games, and with a physical specimen like Johni Broome anchoring the paint, the Blue Devils will need to be a little more physical than usual to make a statement.

NCAAB News: Duke stars get real on Cooper Flagg's turnover issues

NCAAB News: Rick Pitino gets brutally honest on NIL, transfer portal

UConn&#039;s Dan Hurley makes shocking statement after 0-3 MTE run

NCAAB News: Duke stars get real on Cooper Flagg's turnover issues - Bolavip US

Duke stars address Cooper Flagg's issues

For years, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> fans and scouts alike have kept a close eye on Cooper Flagg. The Duke forward went viral during his days at Montverde Academy because of his rare combination of size, shooting, and handles.



Deemed as the best player in his class, he was expected to dominate the<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/college-basketball" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow"> </a><a href="https://bolavip.com/en/college-basketball" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">college basketball</a> scene right out of the gate. However, while he has been good, his numbers haven’t popped out in the way some people expected.



With that in mind, ESPN expert Seth Greenberg explained why there’s nothing to be worried about when it comes to him because his game is better suited for the pros than for college:



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“He’s gonna be the number one pick in the NBA Draft,” started Greenberg. “In the NBA, there’s spacing and the 24-second clock. He’s playing with no space right now, but when he gets to an NBA roster, there will be tremendous space. The spacing Duke is playing with is hurting him because people are game-planning to get the ball out of his hands. You can’t do that in the NBA.”</blockquote>



<h2>NBA Teams Will Win By Losing</h2>



Flagg stands at 6-foot-9, and he’s going to keep getting better. He can play both forward spots and even at the five, and his ability to stretch the floor and create for others makes him a unique prospect.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241202_BUS_284783_Cooper-Flagg-1024x576_9f7367d5.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Cooper Flagg" class="wp-image-278552" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Cooper-Flagg-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Cooper-Flagg-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Cooper-Flagg-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Cooper-Flagg-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Cooper-Flagg-740x416.jpg 740w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Cooper-Flagg-490x275.jpg 490w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Cooper-Flagg-250x140.jpg 250w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Cooper-Flagg.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Cooper Flagg #2 of the Duke Blue Devils looks on during the first half against the Arizona Wildcats at McKale Center on November 22, 2024 in Tucson, Arizona. </figcaption></figure>



Through seven games, he’s averaging 15.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.4 steals. and 1.4 blocks per game. On the downside, he’s shooting just 27% from three-point range, but again, he should benefit from the NBA’s spacing.


 

 


As of now, the 2-16 Washington Wizards look poised to be in the mix to get him all season long, and so will the 4-17 New Orleans Pelicans, 4-16 Utah Jazz, and 4-14 <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/philadelphia-76ers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Philadelphia 76ers</a>.



The fans never want to lose, but when the light at the end of the tunnel is a potential generational superstar like Flagg, it might be worth enduring a tough season just to get him.

NCAAB News: ESPN expert explains why Cooper Flagg will be an NBA star

NCAAB News: Rutgers star Dylan Harper reveals key advice from Michael Jordan

Orlando Magic&#039;s rising star raves about Duke freshman Cooper Flagg’s potential

NCAAB News: ESPN expert explains why Cooper Flagg will be an NBA star - Bolavip US

ESPN expert explains why Cooper Flagg will be an NBA star

Latest news from Cooper Flagg. Find out about all the news related to Cooper Flagg on bolavip.com/en

Cooper Flagg - Page 12