“Liam McNeeley & Cooper Flagg look like twins”: College hoops fans react as ex-Montverde stars get their flowers

Montverde Academy boasted a remarkable 2024 class, with Liam McNeeley and Cooper Flagg highlighting the unit. The team won the 2024 Chipotle High School Nationals championship against Paul VI, with the pair leading the way. Their performance was celebrated and fans commented on their run.

The Bleacher Report Hoops page made an Instagram post highlighting the starting five of Montverde's 2023-24 squad. Flagg, McNeeley, Derik Queen, Rob Wright, and Asa Newell were the players who led that roster to dominance and glory throughout the season, going on to begin their collegiate careers in the 2024-25 season.

"Last year’s Montverde squad is showing out at the next level 🔥 Best Montverde team of all time??" the post read.

Fans responded quickly to the post, commenting on McNeeley and Cooper Flagg's looks and describing their talent as capable of beating low majors.

Here are some of their reactions.

"McNeeley & Flagg look like twins," one fan said.

A fan commenting on an Instagram post mentioning Flagg and McNeeley. (Credits: IG / @br_hoops & marchmadnessmbb)

"This Monteverde team or Cade and em?" asked the March Madness page.

A fan commenting on an Instagram post mentioning Flagg and McNeeley. (Credits: IG / @br_hoops & marchmadnessmbb)

"And ppl didn't think they could beat low majors lmaooo," one remarked.

A fan commenting on an Instagram post mentioning Flagg and McNeeley. (Credits: IG / @br_hoops & marchmadnessmbb)

Others commented on the high school's ability to recruit players like Cooper Flagg and McNeeley nationwide due to the program's high budget and the retrospective on how strong this team would be later down the road.

"When your team is from all over the country why not?" a fan asked.

A fan commenting on an Instagram post mentioning Flagg and McNeeley. (Credits: IG / @br_hoops & marchmadnessmbb)

"That starting 5 is gonna be odee when we look back on it," one stated.

A fan commenting on an Instagram post mentioning Flagg and McNeeley. (Credits: IG / @br_hoops & marchmadnessmbb)

"They could've went to the same school and ran it back one more time," another fan commented.

A fan commenting on an Instagram post mentioning Flagg and McNeeley. (Credits: IG / @br_hoops & marchmadnessmbb)

How Cooper Flagg, Liam McNeeley, and company are going in freshman seasons

Montverde's starting five last year went their separate ways in college. Cooper Flagg went to Duke, Liam McNeeley enrolled at UConn, Derik Queen selected Maryland, Rob Wright chose Baylor, and Asa Newell decided to play for Georgia.

They all have had solid starts, averaging double-digit scoring while playing significant roles on the teams they represent. Flagg, the top prospect in the 2024 class, has convincingly settled into college basketball. He is averaging 16.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.5 blocks on 43.5 percent shooting from the field and 23.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Flagg is coming the No. 9 Blue Devils's ranked victory over No. 2 Auburn on Wednesday, putting up 22 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks on 7-of-18 shooting overall. With a key win under his belt, Cooper Flagg will look to continue his level of play when Duke faces Louisville at the KFC Yum! Center on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET.