Lakers star D'Angelo Russell downplays Cooper Flagg led 2024 Montverde team: "We would beat s*it out of them"

Lakers star D
Credit: Lakers star D'ngelo Russell and Duke's Cooper Flagg/Instagram

Duke Blue Devils commit Cooper Flagg has brought his high school, Montverde Academy, back to the limelight with his dazzling displays in various tournaments since last year. Flagg was named the No. 1 prospect in the class of 2025 by ESPN this week.

During an appearance on the "BR Hoops" podcast, D'Angelo Russell was categorical in his assertion about how his Montverde team would fair against the highly-rated Cooper Flagg and his teammates.

"We would have beat the s*it out of them. I saw them play in like Vegas. Young bull, he cold (Rob Wright, Montverded player), we would have exposed him. Just play some four clips from Kasey Hill," Russell said.

Montverde Academy has produced some of the best basketball talents in the country, as evidenced by some of its alumni, which include NBA stars Ben Simmons, D'Angelo Russell and Joel Embiid.

Russell became the first player in Monteverde Academy history to have his jersey retired in 2017 after leading the team to back-to-back national titles in 2014 before going to Ohio State. He was a one-and-done talent, selected second overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2015 NBA Draft.

Cooper Flagg has been running roughshod over his opponents and led Montverde Academy to an unbeaten season (33-0), which included a national championship win.

Cooper Flagg cements himself as the talent to watch

Cooper Flagg added to his burgeoning reputation after he was chosen to be in the Team USA Select 15 which helped the main team prepare for the 2024 Paris Olympics. He was the first student-athlete to earn that honor in 11 years.

A video of Flagg hitting a 3-pointer over LA Lakers star Anthony Davis during the Team USA camp went viral. During an interview with ESPN, he described the surreal moment of getting to play and defend NBA stars like LeBron James.

"The first day, for sure, I was nervous. I didn't know what to think. I got on the court, and I was like, 'Wow.' I was guarding LeBron in the corner. It kind of just hit me for a second, and I had to snap out of it," Flagg said.

Cooper Flagg will have to navigate a treacherous college basketball season with the Duke Blue Devils before next year's NBA Draft, where he is considered the top pick by ESPN.

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Edited by Krutik Jain
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