In a heated showdown at the Dean E. Smith Center, the North Carolina Tar Heels battled fiercely against the No. 2 Duke Blue Devils. Despite UNC leading 59-57 at the under-12 media timeout, Duke, powered by standout freshman Cooper Flagg, pulled off the win.
The freshman phenom ended the night with 15 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and four blocks, playing a crucial role in Duke’s 82-69 victory.
A thunderous dunk from Flagg left the crowd in absolute ecstasy, while his mother Kelly Flagg made a bigger spectacle than anyone else that evening. The passionate outburst of her declaration, along with expressive movements, became viral immediately.
Kelly Flagg’s Epic Reaction to Cooper Flagg’s Dunk Takes Internet by Storm
In a heated matchup between Duke and North Carolina at the Dean E. Smith Center, Flagg faced early foul trouble but turned things around in dominant fashion. Starting the second half with three fouls, Flagg had to play smart.
Despite the Tar Heels building a 56-49 lead after halftime, they missed several chances to challenge Flagg directly.
Flagg’s first half was frustrating, yet he responded with a stellar second-half performance. His standout moment came with 1:31, remaining when he punctuated Duke’s win — and their ACC regular-season championship — with a powerful two-handed dunk.
Cooper Flagg’s mom: “ON HIS F***ING HEAD!!” 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/5EayQW0YB0
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 9, 2025
The highlight of the night wasn’t just Flagg’s dunk — it was his mother, Kelly Flagg’s, unforgettable reaction. In a moment that quickly went viral, Kelly erupted with excitement.
“ON HIS F***ING HEAD!!” Kelly shouted.
Her enthusiastic celebration left fans buzzing, showcasing the fiery competitive spirit Cooper clearly inherited. A few fans expressed their reactions.
“Damn, no wonder he’s a monster. She probably bullied him on the court as a kid,” a fan quipped.
“I like parents like this that really be hip and tuned into their kid’s games,” another said.
Kelly and her husband, Ralph, both played college basketball in Maine, where they first met on the court. Cooper’s passion for the game seems deeply rooted in his family’s basketball background.
KEEP READING: National Player of the Year Race: Cooper Flagg’s Most Impressive Feats
The 2025 NBA Draft projections have listed Cooper as the top selection. He averages 19.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, while shooting 49.7% from the field and 38.2% beyond the three-point line. During ACC games, he has raised his point-scoring average to 21.5 points per game.
Duke’s victory improved their record to 28-3 overall and 19-1 in conference play, their best ACC finish since the 20-game format began in 2019-2020. Meanwhile, North Carolina ended the season at 20-12 and 13-7 in the ACC, now relying on a strong conference tournament push to secure a March Madness berth.
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