Skip to main content
Join
Team Avatar
Duke

Jon Scheyer believes Cooper Flagg is the best player in the country

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh•01/08/25•

griffin_mcveigh

andy-enfield-details-how-smu-preparing-duke-cooper-flagg
Dec 21, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Cooper Flagg (2) on the court against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during the first half at McCamish Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

No player in college basketball entered this season with more hype than Cooper Flagg. The No. 1 ranked player coming out of high school, Flagg is also a popular pick to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. At least through early January, the expectations have certainly been met.

Duke head coach Jon Scheyer is now campaigning to crown Flagg as the best player in the country. He admits there is some bias in his statement but points to how easy the game comes to the true freshman. His numbers may not be too flashy but Scheyer is confident in how Duke plays when Flagg is out there.

“I know I’m biased or whatever but if we’re not talking about him as one of the best — if a chance to be the best player in the country. To me, he is the best player,” Scheyer said after Tuesday’s win over Pitt. “I think he’s proven that with who we’ve played, the competition. The fact that he does it in such a mature way, he doesn’t hunt numbers. He just puts up numbers because the game comes to him, he plays the game the right way.

“So, I think we need to make sure we’re talking about him that way. He’s proven it to me, he’s got to continue to prove it. But to me, when we step on the floor, we have the best player in the country. That’s a big deal.”

Flagg is certainly in the race to win National Player of the Year but looking at odds, sits in a distant second. Auburn‘s Johni Broome is the consensus player, somebody Duke did play earlier in the season. Cameron Indoor worked its magic and got the Blue Devils a win.

In 38 minutes played, Flagg put up 22 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and two steals. Broome had a nice night too, going for 20 points and 12 rebounds. Potentially a game Scheyer is referencing when saying “who we’ve played.”

Flagg will be back in action on Saturday afternoon, facing Notre Dame at noon ET in Durham. The race to be named the best player in college basketball will rage on. But if you ask Scheyer, he feels confident in casting his vote on Jan. 7.