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Jeff Borzello
Duke Star Freshman Cooper Flagg, winner of the wooden price and choice n ° 1 planned, officially between the NBA draft, he announced on Monday.
Flagg published a video on social networks.
“Duke fans, my teammates, the brotherhood, all those who were for the trip. It was an incredible year, probably the best year of my life and I have so much gratitude and I feel so blessed for all the opportunities that had been given to me. Duke has always been a dream for me, but I am delighted to announce that I will grasp my name in the NBA 2025”.
“Today is only the beginning, but I have fraternity with me for life.”
Flagg, the former hope n ° 1 of the class of the Lycée 2024, was considered the prohibitive favorite to be written first within the framework of the draft of the NBA 2025 since it became eligible for reclassification in August 2023.
The 6-foot 9 inch striker then released and collected on average 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists during his only season in Duke, leading the Blue Devils to a record of 35-4 and an appearance of the Final Four.
“Really proud of Cooper for the special season he had this year,” said Duke Jon Scheyer coach. “I think that the distinctions speak of itself, with what he did, winning all the prizes of the national player of the year. His highlights, his statistics, the way he had an impact on the game at both ends of the ground, really in all categories, was out of the graphics. As well as a first year season as a guy had here.
“But for me, the separator and the joy of Cooper training are the person he was every day, the teammate he was. Never on statistics or something other than creating an environment and helping his team win. And we have won a lot of games and have had a lot of success and many times the environment is created from your best player. And Cooper has done an incredible job in all areas.
Flagg supported the media threshing pre-season with a solid performance during the non-conference game, but really succeeded in the ACC competition in January. It collected an average of 25.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists during the month, firing 57.9% in the field and 42.9% on a 3 -point range.
His declaration performance came against Notre Dame in January, when he set the ACC first year record for points in a match after 42 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists in a victory over the Fighting Irish.
Flagg suffered an ankle injury during the ACC tournament, but returned to train in the NCAA tournament – including an effort of 30 points, 6 reimbursements and 7 in a soft victory of 16 against Arizona.
He was the consensual national player of the year and only became the fourth first -year student to win the wooden prize.
