We’re Starting To Get An Idea Of Cooper Flagg’s Impact
Good so far and probably going to get better
With five college games under his belt, basketball fans are getting a better idea of what Cooper Flagg can do. As of right now, the 17-year-old Flagg - remember he should be a high school senior this year - is leading Duke in scoring (17.8), rebounding (8.8), assists (3.8), steals (1.8) and blocks (1.8).
Yes, it’s early, but that’s pretty incredible. The guy is doing everything. Could he shoot better? Yes - and we’re sure he will.
Some things you can measure with normal stats and some you can’t. There is no way that we’re aware of that you can measure the psychology of playing with a guy who can raise the confidence of his teammates just by his presence. Need a board? Coop! Basket? Yo, Coop! Block? Steal? Smart pass? Hey, Coop!
Those guys don’t grow on trees. Duke has had at least a couple. Zion Williamson did it in his freshman year. Shane Battier did it some in his junior year and definitely in his senior - but it took him much longer than it did Flagg.
Danny Ferry was doing it by his senior year too.
But it’s rare. And at 17? To play like this? Maybe Bill Walton did at UCLA, but he was not eligible as a freshman. No one knew how good he would be, outside of a small, select few.
Check out what Arizona’s Jaden Bradley said about Flagg:
“He is tall, athletic, and he can finish over a lot of bodies. He’s just super athletic. I feel like we did a good job of containing him in the first half. I think we just went away from the game plan and then didn’t talk, didn’t communicate as a group, and he found openings in our defense. He provides mismatch problems for them. We get a smaller guard on him, he can take us inside and use his strength, his height advantage. We get a bigger guy on him, he can play quick, play fast and be able to shoot over the top or get by him.”
That doesn’t sum up his impact, but it sort of explains the dilemma he presents. The guy is growing in leaps and bounds and he’s just getting started.