“Kon [Knueppel] is very similar to Cooper [Flagg]”: HC Jon Scheyer compares 2 Duke stars

Cooper Flagg, along with Kon Knueppel, Khaman Maluach and Isaiah Evans, are some of the top freshman recruits on the current Duke Blue Devils roster. The team has a lot riding on these prospects, as they are expected to build on last year's Sweet 16 run and finally end Duke's long championship drought.

In an interview with The Athletic, published on Monday, Blue Devils coach Jon Scheyer spoke about his freshman class and drew similarities between Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel.

"Kon is an old-school guy," Scheyer said. "Midwest, blue-collar. He might as well put his hard hat on every day he comes to the basketball court. He’s a terrific defender. He has great feel.

"His body is ready for the college game. And his skill level is extremely high. But Kon is very similar to Cooper where he plays very hard all the time and has feel. That’s a great combination to have."

The two players made a standout debut on Monday against Maine as they led Duke to a 96-62 win. Kon Knueppel finished with a team-high 22 points, along with four rebounds and two assists. He shot 8 of 14 from the floor and 3 of 8 from behind the arc.

Meanwhile, Cooper Flagg came in second, as he scored 18 points on a 6 of 15 shooting. He also took seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. Flagg was playing against his home state school, which was also where his mother, Kelly, played college basketball.

“It’s a special thing,” Jon Scheyer said before the game. "Nobody has represented the state of Maine the way Cooper has in his young life. He’s got a long way to go and all that. But I can feel, just coaching him, the pride that the entire state of Maine has.”

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Cooper Flagg comments on staying grounded amid rising expectations

Duke last won the NCAA championship in 2015 and made a Final Four appearance in 2022. With the long wait, fans see Cooper Flagg as the answer, with heavy expectations to win a championship.

In addition to this, college and NBA insiders have also made big predictions about the 17-year-old forward. Despite the mounting pressure, Flagg remains calm and credits this mindset to his family.

"I think my parents for sure played a huge role in that," he said (via ESPN). "My teammates, obviously being around them every single day, they definitely have helped me stay focused.

"And then my friends. I have [childhood] friends that I talk to almost every day. They help just keep me grounded, keep me in the moment."

Cooper Flagg and the Blue Devils will play their next game against Army West Point on Friday.