Jaime Jaquez Jr. gushes over potential of Duke freshman Cooper Flagg: 'He's an incredible talent'

Jaime Jaquez Jr. was able to get a first look at budding star Cooper Flagg ahead of his freshman season at Duke after teaming with him on the 2024 Team USA Select Team.

The job of the select team was to train against Team USA before they headed off to Paris of the Olympics. During their short time together, the Miami Heat guard was impressed with what he saw out of the future first-round draft pick.

Although, he wouldn’t budge when asked if Flagg will is one of the best draft prospects of all time.

“I mean, there’s only one way to find out,” Jaquez Jr. told TMZ Sports. “He’s got to go out and play man, but he’s an incredible talent. Incredible player, great person. We’ll see. … Like I said, only time will tell. I wish him the best and we’ll see when it’s all said and done.”

Many expect Flagg to be the top pick in next year’s NBA Draft. After all, Flagg was the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, according to On3’s Industry Rankings. The Duke commit averaged 26.8 points, 12.4 rebounds, 5.2 blocks and 4.7 assists per game in the Nike EYBL league ahead of his senior season.

As the top overall prospect in every major recruiting service, Flagg will have the attention of the college basketball world as he takes the floor for the Blue Devils this year. With hoardes of Team USA experience, has the resume to back up the hype. And he gets a national stage at Duke to showcase his skills this winter.

“I think it’s everything,” Flagg said via On3’s Sam Gillenwater, when asked what he can learn from this experience. “Just the way they conduct themselves, the way they take care of themselves, how they treat their bodies, how they prepare.

“It really is a learning curve and something that you have to learn it and you have to kind of take it from other people and just kind of build your routine. So I think just going to see all their routines, kind of seeing how they interact with the trainers, everybody, and just seeing how they prepare.”

Now, Flagg will turn his attention toward what is expected to be his one-and-done season at Duke before turning pro. There, he will look to lead the Blue Devils to another Final Four before heading off to the NBA.