Cooper Flagg earned reward as he dribbled by NBA All-Stars and made pictures over future Corridor of Famers throughout a scrimmage between the USA choose staff and the lads’s nationwide squad earlier this month in Las Vegas.
However earlier than that matchup towards Workforce USA, Flagg mentioned he needed to calm his nerves and “snap out of it,” particularly when he realized he’d must battle one among his idols — LeBron James.
“It was cool, an unbelievable experience,” Flagg mentioned throughout an look on “The Brotherhood Podcast,” hosted by his Duke teammate Caleb Foster. “Simply having the chance to be there and simply share the courtroom with that degree of expertise and participant, the individuals who’ve made that sort of title for themselves. I’ve been watching them for years, rising up.
“The first day, for sure, I was nervous. I didn’t know what to think. I got on the court, and I was like, ‘Wow.’ I was guarding LeBron in the corner. It kind of just hit me for a second, and I had to snap out of it.”
However 17-year-old Flagg, a five-star recruit for the Blue Devils and ESPN’s projected No. 1 choose within the 2025 NBA draft, mentioned he grew extra comfy as soon as the sport began. Throughout one sequence, Flagg dribbled off a display and hit a 3-pointer over the outstretched arms of Lakers star Anthony Davis — a second that went viral.
“I think once I got going into it, it was just playing basketball, and I think a lot of players share a similar experience that once you start playing, the nerves and stuff [disappear],” Flagg mentioned. “Most of the players that can really perform at a high level, once the tip goes up, it all goes away, for sure.”
Flagg led Montverde (Florida) Academy to a 30-0 season and nationwide championship final season. School basketball followers will get their first official glimpse of the phenom throughout Countdown to Craziness on Oct. 4, in keeping with an announcement Wednesday about Duke’s Midnight Insanity preseason occasion.
Flagg will be a part of returnees Tyrese Proctor and Foster, together with grad switch Mason Gillis and five-star prospect Khaman Maluach, in a quest for the Blue Devils’ sixth nationwide championship and first within the post-Mike Krzyzewski period.
Flagg has obtained essentially the most preseason buzz for a school basketball participant since Zion Williamson gained the Picket Award in his lone season at Duke through the 2018-19 marketing campaign. He credited former Duke star Grant Hill, managing director of USA Basketball, for giving him the chance to play with the choose staff and compete towards Workforce USA.
Flagg mentioned he’s making ready for his first collegiate season by engaged on his agility and quickness. He additionally mentioned he hopes to achieve a psychological edge and is enjoying extra golf and implementing yoga into his routine.
“I’m just working on bettering myself in ways that aren’t just physical,” he mentioned.
