Cooper Flagg has already impressed LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Team USA.
But the biggest star of the NCAA Tournament could soon move on to even bigger things.
The 18-year-old Flagg, who grew up as a Boston Celtics and Larry Bird fan, is the most-hyped basketball prospect since Victor Wembanyama was drawing raves in France.
“He wants to be great,” said Phoenix Suns star guard Devin Booker, after Flagg went head-to-head versus Team USA before the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Flagg and his No. 1 overall seed Duke Blue Devils (35-3) will face the No. 1 Houston Cougars (34-4) in NCAA men’s semfinals on Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
Houston assistant coach K.C. Beard acknowledged that he became ‘stressed’ while watching Duke film in preparation for a matchup that pits the Coogs’ top-ranked defense against a Blue Devils offense that put up 100 points on No. 4 Arizona.
“Man, they are really good,” Beard exclusively told talkSPORT.
While studying Flagg during the 2024-25 season, the UH coach watched a 6ft 9in and 205lb freshman embrace his awesome talent and further develop an already well-rounded attack.
Flagg is averaging 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks, while shooting 48.3 percent from the field, 37.4 percent on 3-pointers and 83.4 percent from the free-throw line.
But what really stood out to Beard is a skill that eventually could connect Flagg with James, Curry and the best players in the NBA.
Basketball intelligence.
“I’ll go back to a Jeff Van Gundy quote,” Beard said.
GettyLeBron James has already played against the expected No. 1 pick[/caption]
“He was talking to our staff two falls ago in our little staff retreat that we have every year. In it he said — it’s so simple — but he said, ‘I’ve never seen a smart player underachieve.’
“When I see somebody like Cooper Flagg, when the physical gifts are there and the IQ is there … that’s what makes him so good. It’s his ability to lead them in assists. And then late in the game, he knows when to take over. He’s got such a great feel for both sides of that.”
Carmelo Anthony, a 10-time NBA All-Star who carried Syracuse to the 2003 national championship, also praised Flagg’s enjoyable style of play.
“He just impacts the game at a totally high level,” Anthony said on Wave Original.
“He don’t have to score, but he can score if he want. He’s very impressive to watch as a player, but also a player at that age. You don’t see that.
“When you watch him, you see the bounce, you see the pop that he have, you see the quick twitches. … That takes a different type of motor and energy to do. He’s special, man.”
The Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets will be among the desperate teams hoping that Flagg bounces to them in the NBA Draft as a potential No. 1 overall pick on June 25.
Inside the Alamodome, the Coogs will attempt to pressure Duke while playing to a home crowd three hours away from Houston.
“We’re a team that relies on making teams feel uncomfortable,” Beard said.
“That’s going to be the chess match that will be taking place Saturday night.
“Can we make them uncomfortable? Can we speed them up a little bit?”
Flagg has battled through injuries to roll into the NCAA semifinals, averaging 19.5 points on 44.8 percent shooting, and dropping 30 points in the Sweet 16.
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It’s on Houston to slow Duke down and force Flagg to make a $100 million NBA decision.
Which means that Flagg could be forced to take over for his college team to reach the national championship.
“He understands the value is, as I get my teammates involved, it helps us be a better team,” Beard said.
“And then it’s going to open the floor for me late in games. And then they do a great job of hunting matchups for him and putting him in the middle of the floor where he can make — it’s hard to double in the middle floor.
“That allows him to operate in a space that he’s comfortable in. And he sees the floor, at 6-9, so well.”
The NBA already envisions its next superstar, and is just waiting on Flagg to finish playing college games.
