"Wemby & Flagg boutta run this league" - Fans hyped over Cooper Flagg's potential after top draft prospect drops 42 points for Duke

Led by the top prospect in the 2025 NBA Draft in Cooper Flagg, the Duke Blue Devils are the the team to watch this college basketball season. On Saturday, Duke extended their winning streak with a victory over Notre Dame, thanks largely to Flagg's monster performance.

In 36 minutes, Flagg set a freshman record by scoring 42 points on 11 of 14 shooting, including four of six from 3-point range. He also grabbed six rebounds, dished out seven assists and notched a steal on the defensive end, getting to the free-throw line at will in the 86-78 win. Flagg earned 17 free-throw attempts, converting 16 of them for his 42 points.

Flagg shattered former Duke star Zion Williamson's freshman scoring record of 35 points, which was a program high. He also became the first Blue Devil to score 40 points since JJ Redick did nearly two decades ago. Fans reacted to Flagg's historic performance on social media.

"#1 Draft Pick," one fan predicted.

"Went to work," another fan added. "42 points in 14 shots is solid. (He) had a great night at the line too."

"Bro putting up video game numbers," another fan commented.

Fans continued to rave over Flagg's performance in the comments.

"(Victor Wembanyama) and (Cooper Flagg) about to run this league," a fan posted.

"Future star in the making," another fan commented.

"The reason teams are freely tanking," a third fan humorously added.

Cooper Flagg drawing NBA comparisons

No matter where he lands, Cooper Flagg is a rare prospect who will enter the NBA as a high-level contributor on both ends of the floor. Flagg has drawn comparisons to numerous NBA stars, including Jayson Tatum and Kevin Durant.

While these comparisons aren't entirely accurate, they aren't far off either. Flagg isn't as polished on the perimeter as Tatum or Durant, but his interior scoring ability could already rival the best in the NBA. In his historic performance against Notre Dame, Flagg showcased his immense potential as a perimeter scorer, shooting 66% from beyond the arc.

Cooper Flagg is a grittier defender than either Tatum or Durant were when they entered the league, drawing comparisons to Anthony Davis due to his shot-blocking ability. As the projected top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Flagg still has room to grow, but he's certainly on the right path to rival the All-Stars he's being compared to.