“Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey are both significantly better”: College hoops fans divided as Cooper Flagg leads Duke win vs Virginia Tech

Duke fans were treated to an electrifying performance by freshman sensation Cooper Flagg as the Blue Devils secured a decisive 88-65 win over Virginia Tech on Tuesday. Flagg dominated on both ends of the floor, putting up 24 points, six assists, three rebounds and four steals.

Flagg’s standout performance reignited debates among fans about how he measures up to other highly touted recruits, namely Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey.

"Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey are both significantly better," a fan commented.

A fan comments on an Instagram post about Cooper Flagg (Instagram/@bleacherreport)

Some other fans had their opinions on their preferred player.

Other fans' comments (Instagram/@bleacherreport)

The debate among fans underscores the unique talent present in this year's freshman class. Flagg has averaged 16.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and shooting 43.8% from the floor.

Harper has averaged 22.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.8 apg and shooting 52.5% from the floor, while Ace Bailey has averaged 18.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 0.7 apg and 47.4% from the floor.

Cooper Flagg speaks about surprise visitor Cameron Boozer

Adding to the excitement of Duke’s win vs Virginia Tech was an unannounced visit by Cameron Boozer, the top high school senior in the 2025 class and a Duke signee.

Boozer, who shares the court with his twin brother and fellow Blue Devil commit Cayden Boozer, has long been linked to Flagg as one of the nation’s premier talents. Their history includes intense matchups in prep showcases and AAU tournaments, with both players consistently demonstrating their elite abilities.

When asked about Boozer’s potential impact at Duke, Flagg was quick to praise his future teammate.

“We’ve had some pretty good battles in AAU and high school,” Flagg said (h/t Sports Illustrated). “He’s an incredible player with such a good feel for the game. That’s the prototype player you like to see at Duke because he does all the little things right.”

Flagg highlighted Boozer’s unselfish play and high basketball IQ.

“He makes the right pass and doesn’t worry about his own stats,” Flagg added. “But he still gets his own. He’s such a talent.”

Boozer is part of a Duke recruiting class that ranks No. 1 in the nation. The class also includes his twin brother and two other highly touted prospects.

Boozer, standing at 6-foot-9 and 245 pounds, brings a combination of size, skill and versatility that will complement Duke’s style of play.