Cooper Flagg’s hype was less than Zion Williamson's before they made Duke debuts, claims Coach K

Duke freshman phenom Cooper Flagg was arguably the most hyped prospect to join college basketball in years. However, Hall of Fame coach Mike "Coach K" Krzyzewski argued that the hysteria surrounding Flagg's debut was less than that surrounding former Blue Devil Zion Williamson.

In an interview with analyst Andy Katz on Wednesday, Krzyzewski shared his thoughts on the 6-foot-9 Maine native, who has made an immediate impact for the No. 2-ranked Blue Devils this season.

"(Cooper) has been amazing, really. There's not even a glimpse of anything negative," Coach K said. "There's no negative DNA in his room. He came in with hype, not as much as Zion, because Zion's was his like you couldn't believe that body type could do all that."

In his final high school season, Williamson averaged 36.4 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game at Spartanburg Day School in South Carolina. Meanwhile, Flagg recorded 16.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg and 3.8 apg for Montverde Academy in Florida.

Considered a generational talent, Cooper Flagg is a projected top pick in the 2025 NBA draft. Only a few other players have had the same level of anticipation before their college debuts as Flagg since the 2010s, including Kentucky's Anthony Davis and Kansas' Andrew Wiggins.

Halfway through his debut campaign, Flagg has met and even surpassed the expectations placed on him. He is averaging 19.2 ppg, 8.1 rpg and 4.1 apg for the Blue Devils.

Coach K praises Cooper Flagg as best player in the country

Mike Krzyzewski, the five-time national champion coach with Duke, has been a huge fan of Cooper Flagg even before he arrived on campus. In a chat with Andy Katz, Coach K reflected on the youngster's work ethic and relentless drive.

"He keeps pushing forward. He keeps getting better. You know, he's gotten as he was really good right away. But it just keeps going up. And he's the real deal. I think he's the best player in the country," Krzyzewski said.

"It's not just him scoring, but his passing is. Every time he has the ball, the next thing that happens with the ball is a good decision, a pass, a shot, the dribble ... There's really not anyone exactly like him ... and I've loved watching him play and grow."

Cooper Flagg has been instrumental for Jon Scheyer's team this season as the Blue Devils (16-2, 8-0 ACC) climbed to the second spot in the AP Top 25 poll.