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| Cooper Flagg. Photo Credit: Gregory Payan/AP. |
Today, I open the case file of Cooper Flagg, a five-star recruit who has committed to Duke. He led his high school to their eighth national title, and was ranked the third best prospect in the 2025 recruiting class.
Position: Small forward
HT: 6-9 WT: 205
College: Duke
Class: Freshman
Credentials:
National High School Player of the Year (2024)
Strengths:
-Can shoot on all levels
-Can score in multiple ways
-Good ball handler
-Absorbs contact and finishes when attacking the basket
-Able to maintain his dribble through traffic and when defenders get into his body
-Runs the floor
-Very good shot blocker
Weaknesses:
-Thin frame
-Dribble looks languid at times
Final Analysis:
Cooper looks the part of a Top Three recruit. There wasn't much I saw that I didn't like. He can shoot on all levels: off the dribble, spotting up, pull-ups, and coming off screens/picks.
He can create his own shot, usually using jab steps to create separation. He's able to absorb contact and finish when attacking the basket.
Very good ball handler, he's able to maintain his dribble through traffic and make plays. Although he looks to score most of the time, he is a capable passer with good vision and timing.
An aggressive shot blocker, quite often I saw him rotating to block shots or chase down blocks.
Like most shot blockers, he tends to fall for pump fakes and head fakes. He has a thin frame, and while this might not be much of an issue in college, players will look to overpower or bully ball him at the next level.
His dribble looks sluggish and lazy at times, as if he's just going through the motions. That he needs to be mindful of because occasionally falling asleep, so to speak, can get him trouble at the next level where there are more aggressive defenders.
Considered to be one of the top prospects for next year's NBA draft, with his length, versatility, and being able to score at a high level consistently, I wouldn't be surprised if he's a one-and-done player after this upcoming season.
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