3. Cooper Flagg
Despite the more recent trend of the Transfer Portal, there’s still a lot of excitement among freshman recruits and the recruiting trail. A native of Maine, Flagg is a rare prospect from New England whose game is off the charts, with serious potential for a long future in the NBA based on what we’ve seen from him already. It’s a lot of pressure entering what’s likely his lone season of college ball, but he’s ready to give Duke one heck of a season.
Flagg joins a Blue Devils’ squad loaded with young talent, though he certainly becomes the instant headliner. His combination of size and athleticism make him this sensational talent, with versatility and an ability to affect the game at multiple levels. He’s a power forward who can cause damage in the paint, but he’s also a strong outside shooter and talented rebounder. Despite this, it’s his defense that will have professional scouts excited, and a big reason for Duke’s potential this upcoming season.
A member of this past year’s U. S. Olympic team, Flagg now joins a Duke lineup full of raw talent with the hopes of making serious noise at season’s end. Already considered the consensus top pick, he’s a rare talent who can do it all, but what precisely will we see from him this season? He doesn’t have the age or experience as many of these talented candidates, but Flagg might have the best raw talent in the country and he’ll certainly shine in Durham in the coming months.