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    Cooper Flagg Might Be Duke’s Best Freshman Ever: What Sets This Future #1 Pick Apart From Past Blue Devil Stars

    Matthew BrzezinskiBy No Comments7 Mins Read
    Duke, Cooper Flagg, NBA
    Dec 21, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Cooper Flagg (2) shoots against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during the first half at McCamish Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

    Cooper Flagg is the latest phenom to walk onto campus at Durham, and the newest Duke star has been living up to the hype so far. Duke is an impressive 12-2, ranked 4th in the country. Flagg is seemingly destined to be the #1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. Let’s take a look at how Flagg’s season has gone relative to other superstar freshman Blue Devils of the past.

    Flagg Has Been Nothing Short of Dominant So Far

    No one is doubting that Flagg has lived up to all the expectations so far. The young man from Newport, Maine certainly has the counting stats, averaging 17.4 points per game, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. Flagg’s 50/30/79 shooting splits are more than enough to inspire confidence. The three-point numbers are maybe not what some might have hoped for, but Flagg has been showing improvement in that area already. In his last four games, he is shooting 50% from beyond the arc and looking much more comfortable. The eye test shows Flagg is just as dominant as the numbers suggest.

    Flagg has recorded 5 double-doubles and flirted with a triple-double on multiple occasions. His most impressive performances so far have been against Auburn, where he had 22 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks in what has been the #2 Tigers’ only loss on the year, and in his latest game, where he torched SMU for 24 points on 77.3% true shooting. He had another notable outing against Kentucky, where he stacked up 26 points and 11 rebounds, but had multiple freshman mistakes down the stretch that resulted in a loss for Duke.

    Head coach Jon Scheyer has gone as far to say Flagg is a “savant” with an “amazing understanding for, what’s required to win and how to elevate everybody around him.” These traits are extremely important for the truly great players. Basketball IQ is critical, and the ability to help teammates be at their best is invaluable.

    What Duke Freshman Have Historically Been As Good As Flagg?

    Comparing Flagg to past Duke freshman is an interesting exercise. Some names that will quickly be brought up in any conversation about Duke alum will be current NBA stars Zion Williamson, Paolo Banchero, and Brandon Ingram, but it’s also important to remember those that made the most of their time at Duke even if it did not translate to professional success. Vernon Carey, Jabari Parker, Jahlil Okafor, and Marvin Bagley III all had otherworldly careers in a Blue Devils jersey. So how does Flagg stack up against these greats?

    Plenty consider Bagley as having the greatest one-and-done season at Duke. Often forgotten about due to his inability to live up to being the #2 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, many forget that Bagley has the ACC freshman records for most double-doubles (22) and most 30-point games (7). These are likely achievements that Flagg will not reach just based on his position alone. That being said, Bagley’s 21 points per game certainly make him in a class by himself. Flagg’s 17.4 points per game are more in line with the aforementioned Carey and Okafor. who averaged 17.8 and 17.3 respectively.

    Given that Flagg impacts the game as more of a big guard or wing, it’s hard to compare him to more traditional centers. As the game evolves, it is clear that a perimeter player that can handle the ball and shoot from range is the kind of player that has the ability to impact winning the most. Flagg certainly falls into this category. But how does he stack up to other greats from Duke such as Parker, Williamson, and Banchero?

    Flagg’s Versatility Has No Match, Even By Duke Standards

    Parker started off his Duke career on an absolute tear, averaging 20.4 points per game in his first 14 appearances. He was comparable to Flagg in height, standing at 6′ 8”, but was much bigger, operating at around 235 pounds as opposed to Flagg’s lean 205. Parker’s shooting splits of 47/36/75 are also relatively similar to Flagg.

    Williamson is truly a one-of-a-kind player, making it hard to truly compare him to anyone else, but compiling his numbers is still a useful exercise. The current New Orleans Pelicans star also has the edge in scoring (20.9 through his first 14 games), but unlike Parker, gives Flagg a run for his money in terms of how many ways he impacts the game. While Parker’s scoring ability far outpaced any of his other talents, Williamson commonly stuffed the stat sheet with big rebounding numbers, racked up assists with surprisingly nimble passes, and had many games with multiple steals due to his deceptively quick hands.

    While Flagg is lauded for some of these traits as well, he has one thing that Williamson never developed, which was the ability to be a highly-effective and switchable defender. Flagg can truly guard 1 through 5, and while Williamson seemed to have a never-before-seen block weekly while at Durham, Flagg might be a more complete defender.

    Perhaps the Best Comparison For Flagg is Paolo Banchero

    Banchero, currently in the NBA with the Orlando Magic, turns out to be a strong comparison for Flagg numbers-wise. Banchero’s 17.3 points per game through his first 14 is almost identical to Flagg’s, and his rebounding (7.5 vs 8.4) and assists (2.3 vs 3.6) are also close. However, it appears Flagg has the slight advantage in all these categories.

    Further statistical analysis reveals Flagg also has the edge in assist to turnover ratio, while Banchero gets the nod for effective field goal percentage. While not very comparable physically (Banchero played at 6′ 10”, 250 pounds in college), the two are similar in terms of being a do-it-all player who is great in so many different categories.

    Many fans will remember Banchero leading Duke to a Final Four in what was head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s last year, so perhaps that is a reasonable goal for Flagg. So far, he’s certainly been up to par, and with so much of the season left, he has plenty of time to bring his team to where they want to be in March and possibly become the best Duke freshman in history.

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    Matthew Brzezinski is a sports writer for Hardwood Heroics with a deep passion for all things basketball. A graduate of the University of Washington, Matthew has a deep knowledge of the current college basketball landscape as well as the NBA.

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