Considered by many to be the next big thing in college hoops, Cooper Flagg has announced his arrival on the scene with a solid regular-season debut for Duke basketball on Monday against the Maine Black Bears in Durham.
In 30 minutes of action, Flagg scored 18 points, pulled down seven rebounds, dished out five assists, and dished out three steals in front of a crowded Cameron Indoor Stadium. In a 96-62 thumping victory over the visitors, he was 6-for-6 from the free-throw line and required 15 field goals to get his scoring total.
Based on his debut with the Blue Devils, Flagg is not a cause for concern. However, when the first-year forward fell to the ground immediately after trying to make a layup late in the game, Duke basketball fans briefly held their breath.
The spectators became more anxious when Flagg called for assistance from Duke’s bench. But it soon became clear that he was just experiencing leg cramps. Although it hurts, nobody should be extremely worried about Flagg’s health because of it.
In reference to Duke head coach Jon Scheyer’s attempt to teach the freshman a lesson about the realities of collegiate basketball, Flagg posted after the game, “Coach even came to me right after I started cramping and was telling me he wanted to give me the experience of playing extended minutes like that”
“And with this lengthy game, it’s definitely something different, something I haven’t experienced before.”
Flagg had offers from the Georgia Bulldogs, Michigan Wolverines, Providence Friars, UCLA Bruins, West Virginia Mountaineers, and even the Black Bears before deciding to attend Duke.
