Monday’s game between Duke and Wake Forest was likely the final one for Cooper Flagg at Cameron Indoor Stadium. As the freshman star exited the court late in the second half of a blowout win, the Blue Devils fans gave him a standing ovation and a plea.
“One more year!” the Duke faithful chanted.
Flagg’s freshman season at Duke isn’t over. He still has one more regular-season game—Saturday’s showdown with North Carolina in Chapel Hill, which will get the College GameDay treatment on ESPN. Then comes the ACC tournament that Duke is favored to win that starts March 11, followed by March Madness, where the Blue Devils will likely be a No. 1 seed.
But barring a shocking turn of events, Flagg is expected to declare for the 2025 NBA draft and is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick.
The 18-year-old has been vocal about how he’s loved his time at Duke, telling The Athletic earlier this month that he wants to “come back next year.” However, Flagg and his family seem well aware that it likely won’t happen.
While an extra year in college could come with NIL (name, image, and likeness) money that could rival the first year of his rookie deal in the NBA, staying in college would delay a second contract that could be worth close to $400 million, which may ultimately cut his full earning potential.
In the meantime, expect Flagg to bring in high ratings for college men’s basketball through the next month as Duke has a legitimate shot to make a deep run in the tournament. It would be a welcome sign for the men’s tournament, which has seen its viewership wane in recent years, in part due to the lack of star power from top prospects turning pro after just one season.
Flagg is the betting favorite to win the Wooden Award, which would make him the first freshman since former Blue Devil Zion Williamson to win Player of the Year honors. Only two other freshmen have won the award and both are future Hall of Famers who were included in the NBA’s 75th anniversary team: Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis.
