Duke Blue Devils’ star freshman Cooper Flagg may have just played his final game at home as a member of the team. His exit from the court sparked quite a spirited chant by the Duke faithful.
Cooper Flagg Treated to ‘One More Year’ Chants Upon Exiting Final Home Game
“One more year! One more year! One more year!”
The chants filled Cameron Indoor Stadium as Flagg checked out of the game at home for likely the final time. Duke’s freshman phenom had just put the finishing touches on a 93-60 victory over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, exiting the game with under four minutes to go and nursing a 39-point lead.
Flagg delivered another masterful performance, scoring 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting, grabbing eight rebounds, dishing out seven assists, blocking three shots, and tallying two steals.
He hugged every member of the Blue Devils’ coaching staff, including an extended embrace with fellow freshman Kon Knueppel. It was a symbolic moment for the duo, both widely expected to be one-and-done prospects. Their embrace signaled what may have been their final time suiting up at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Cooper Flagg checked out with 28 PTS to “One More Year” chants from Duke fans 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/4z7kBvvkYb
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 4, 2025
Flagg, widely projected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, had long been expected to be a one-and-done player with Duke as a stopgap destination. He has lived up to — and arguably exceeded — expectations, leading the team in every major statistical category for much of the season.
He has shown tremendous playmaking ability (4.1 assists per game), rebounding prowess despite his 205-pound frame (7.6 rebounds per game), and rapid scoring development with the ability to attack the rim and knock down outside shots (19.3 points per game). His three made 3-pointers against Wake Forest tied for his second-most in a game this season, further highlighting his progress.
That’s not to mention his elite defensive skills. At 6’9″ with long arms, he has great positional size, allowing him to make highlight-reel blocks and come up with breakaway steals.
His intangibles are off the charts. With so much hype surrounding him, it would have been understandable if he struggled under the pressure at times. Aside from a few early-season missteps, he has shown no signs of that. He has a mature approach that will serve him well at the next level.
At only 18 years old — and just 17 for the first third of the season — Flagg has been in a two-man race with Auburn’s Johni Broome for the Naismith Player of the Year award. Broome is four years older.
The Duke freshman recently teased fans in an interview, simply stating that he wants to return to college next year.
Whether that was a reflection of his enjoyment in Durham or a genuine possibility, the right decision — and the likely one — is for him to declare for the NBA Draft soon after the season ends.
But he hopes that moment won’t come for a while, as the Blue Devils have established themselves as one of the nation’s top teams. With Flagg leading the way, they are expected to make a deep NCAA Tournament run.
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Assuming he moves on to the next level, it was a fitting end to Flagg’s time as a Blue Devil — a dominant win after a dominant performance, capped off with love from the Duke faithful.
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