Madison Square Garden has been home to legendary athletes and entertainers, from Muhammad Ali to Patrick Ewing and Bruce Springsteen. On Saturday night, Cooper Flagg had the opportunity to showcase his talent on the same stage, solidifying his place among the rising stars of basketball.
Jaime Jaquez Talks About Cooper Flagg’s Rising Stardom
Flagg’s ability to score and facilitate has been crucial, but his leadership, defensive instincts, and unselfish style have made him stand out even more. Over the summer, he participated in USA Basketball’s Select Team training camp in preparation for the Paris Olympics, an experience that placed him under the national spotlight.
NBA players and coaches took notice of his composure and adaptability on the court.
“To be able to do what he did, not even playing a college game, let alone an NBA game, there’s no fear,” Miami Heat’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. said. “It’s relentless, and the thing that you can tell about him is that he just has a knack and the will to win.
“He doesn’t need the ball. He just finds a way to it. And the ball finds its way to him. That’s something that you can’t teach. He’s just got a great feel for the game.”
The projected No. 1 pick in this year’s NBA Draft led his third-ranked Duke Blue Devils against Illinois in the SentinelOne Classic, a game that drew significant attention from scouts and analysts alike.
Flagg has been dominant all season, proving to be an all-around player capable of impacting every aspect of the game. His efficiency was remarkable, shooting 49% from the field and 37% from beyond the arc while filling up the stat sheet in multiple categories.
At just 18 years old, Flagg was originally part of next year’s freshman class but reclassified to join Duke a year early. Despite his youth, his game displayed maturity beyond his years, making him an undeniable top prospect in this year’s draft.
Duke entered the Illinois matchup with an impressive 23-3 record, having lost only once since late November. Flagg contributed significantly to the team’s success, posting 17 points, 14 rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and two steals in a dominant 80-62 win over Virginia earlier in the week.
His season averages of 19.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game further cemented his role as Duke’s leader. If he maintains this level of performance, he could become the first freshman in NCAA history to lead his team in every major statistical category while making an NCAA Tournament run.
Flagg’s Leadership and High-Profile Matchup
Duke head coach Jon Scheyer praised Flagg’s consistency and leadership, reinforcing his impact beyond the stat sheet.
“The most impressive thing to me is the fact that he’s the same way every day,” Scheyer said. “His approach. He’s competitive. He has energy. He’s as loud as anybody in the gym. It just picks everything up.
“Lots of times as a coach, you’re talking about the energy of a practice or [saying], ‘We need to pick it up.’ That hasn’t happened this year. Cooper’s not the only reason, but being the best player, he’s a huge reason why that’s the case. He just has a unique feel for how to pick others up and rise to the occasion. He’s done an incredible job doing both of those things.”
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The game against Illinois provided another test for Flagg, as he faced off against fellow top-five draft prospect Kasparas Jakucionis. The Lithuanian guard, standing at 6-foot-6, has been making waves with his impressive stats, averaging 15.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game.
With many NBA scouts in attendance, both players had the opportunity to make their mark under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.
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