Duke Blue Devils freshman sensation Cooper Flagg has dominated college basketball this season. Heading into Saturday’s matchup against the Illinois Fighting Illini, Flagg is averaging 19.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. His stellar play has helped Duke achieve a No. 3 national ranking, with just one ACC loss so far.
On Saturday morning, ESPN’s Jeremy Woo released a story analyzing the top prospects for June’s NBA Draft, featuring insights from an anonymous NBA scout. Flagg topped Woo’s list, though the scout identified one area of weakness—his ability to create in late-clock situations.
“He’ll reach a point where he can generate his own offense comfortably,” the scout noted. “At his peak, he’ll be good enough to be the best player in a playoff series. But creating in late-clock situations isn’t necessarily his strong suit.”
Woo also discussed the 6-foot-9 forward’s offensive potential, noting that he has already exceeded expectations in that area.
“Flagg has shattered expectations with his offensive impact, establishing himself as the best player in college basketball while proving he can take over games both as a scorer and playmaker,” Woo wrote. “His long-term ceiling will largely depend on improving his ballhandling and perimeter shooting. Can he consistently score off multiple dribbles? How much of a threat will he become from beyond the arc, where he’s currently shooting 36%?”
Woo pointed to Duke’s early-season losses to Kentucky and Kansas, citing Flagg’s difficulties in creating his own shot late in games as a key factor.
“He’s still expected to be the No. 1 overall pick, but his long-term trajectory will be shaped by his development in these areas,” Woo added. “While this critique may seem minor given how dominant he’s been, his struggles in clutch moments were evident in those losses to Kentucky and Kansas.”
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