NCAAB analyst Jeff Goodman hails Duke star Cooper Flagg as "one of the best 10 players” he ever covered in men’s college basketball

Duke men's basketball freshman Cooper Flagg proved why he is regarded as the top NBA prospect after he helped the second-ranked Blue Devils stay unbeaten in the ACC this season.

The Blue Devils (17-2, 9-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) defeated the Wake Forest Demon Deacons 63-56 on Saturday, with Flagg recording 24 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Following the game, NCAAB analyst Jeff Goodman ranked the star freshman as one of the best 10 players he had covered in his career, which was shared on Instagram.

"I've been covering college basketball for a long time. Cooper Flagg is one of the best 10 players I have ever covered," he said.

Steve Forbes describes Cooper Flagg as "generational" talent following Duke win vs Wake Forest

Cooper Flagg entered the 2024-25 season as a top NBA draft prospect and was projected as such in the ESPN Top 100 rankings. So far, Flagg has not disappointed college hoops fans as he is averaging 19.5 points, eight rebounds and 4.2 assists this season.

The 6-foot-9 forward was the star player in Duke's win over Wake Forest, giving the Blue Devils the jolt they needed in the second half to stay ahead of the Demon Deacons.

Duke dominated from the start, leading 35-22 at halftime, but Wake Forest fought back in the second half. Flagg scored 15 of his points after the break, including scoring three times on a run of seven straight scoring possessions.

His impressive form, which has helped the Blue Devils win 13 games in a row, did not go unnoticed by Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes. He later described the freshman guard as a generational talent.

"Generational," he said when asked to describe Flagg. "I’ll give you an example – their leading scorer last year was the first pick in the second round. This guy will be the first pick in the first round. Big difference.

"He’s a tough guy to guard. He’s got all the tools. The great thing about him… is his unselfishness. That he really wants other people to succeed."

With Flagg dominating men's college basketball, he will make history as the youngest player to be chosen as the No. 1 overall pick in an NBA draft if he is selected. Flagg is also a strong candidate to win the National Player of the Year honor.

For now, the 18-year-old will focus on extending Duke's unbeaten streak in a matchup against N.C. State on Monday night.