Cooper Flagg names 2x NCAA champion as Duke GOAT

Cooper Flagg is all set to make his college debut with the Duke Blue Devils and is one of the most anticipated rookies this year.

Flagg was interviewed on Tuesday by Duke Student Broadcasting where he was asked to name the GOAT of Duke hoops.

"Christian Laettner," Flagg said.

This is not the first time that Flagg has been associated with the former Blue Devils star. In a May interview with The Washington Post, Flagg's mother Kelly shared that Laettner was her favorite Duke player growing up and she chose his jersey number during her high school basketball career.

Going with the concept of the Duke "White Villain," Cooper Flagg is set to take on the title after the likes of Laettner, JJ Reddick and Grayson Allen.

Cooper Flagg voted as ACC men's basketball favorite ahead of the 2024-25 season

With the start of the new season just a few weeks away, predictions are on for favorite players and teams. For the Atlantic Coast Conference, Cooper Flagg was named as the favorite men's basketball player.

The No. 1 overall recruit is expected to lead the Blue Devils to a deeper postseason run. With the mounting expectations, predictions and noise around Flagg, Duke coach Jon Scheyer has some advice for his players.

"The hype train, whatever you want to call it, is up there," Scheyer said, via ESPN on Oct. 9. "You can feel it. It's tangible to me. But that's what you want it to be. That means you're in the arena. The thing that I've tried to explain to our team, though, is it doesn't mean anything."

Flagg has also earned praise from one of his teammates. Junior guard Tyrese Proctor commended Flagg for his skills on the court and his mental fortitude.

"His mentality on a daily basis, for a 17-year-old, is something I haven't really seen before," Proctor said, via ESPN on Oct. 9. "Off the floor, he doesn't pay attention to all the media. There's so much stuff going on externally and I feel like -- he's a humble kid. He's just focused on winning and doing his job for the team."

"There's nothing really he can't do. He's really sharp at everything he does," Proctor added. "The main thing is he competes at such a high level. He hates losing."

The Duke Blue Devils are set to begin their season on Nov. 5 against Flagg's home state team, Maine.