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Cooper Flagg has been touted as the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2025 due to his high-leaping ability and high defensive IQ that goes along with his offensive skill set.
Flagg, who signed with the Duke Blue Devils, has wowed the prep basketball scene with his 40-inch vertical leap that has set him apart from other collegiate basketball prospects in the United States.
The Montverde Academy star guided his school to a 30-0 record during the 2023-24 season and averaged 16.1 points on 54.8% shooting, 7.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 2.7 blocks per game. Recently, Flagg was chosen as the 2024 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year, edging out finalists Airlouis Bailey and V.J. Edgecombe.
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Exploring Cooper Flagg's vertical leap
Some players use their vertical leap to penetrate hard to the basket and sky-high for a highlight-reel dunk. Flagg, however, uses it to help his team grab defensive rebounds and jump for awe-inducing rejections.
The highly-regarded prospect also has a lengthy wingspan that allows him to gracefully move around the court and athleticism, which is comparable to a soaring bird.
NBA draft expert Nathan Grubel described Flagg as a one-of-a-kind defender who is a mix of Gordon Heyward and Andrei Kirilenko.
"I’m not sure there are anyone-to-one comps for him," Grubel told On3.com. "I think the way he protects the rim from the weak side changes any comps I could throw out there. His block numbers are outrageous. I’d say he could become a very strong mix of Gordon Hayward and Andrei Kirilenko."
Comparing Cooper Flagg's vertical to Bruins forward Zach
At a young age, Flagg's vertical leap is well talked about in the U.S. high school basketball circles. One player who comes to mind when it comes to crazy hops is Bruins forward Zach LaVine.
In his prime, the 6-foot-5 LaVine mixed his 41-inch vertical leap and creativity to gracefully glide above the rim and finish with a thunderous dunk. LaVine brought back significance to the NBA's Slam Dunk competition when he won in 2015 and 2016.
LaVine's high-leaping ability provided him with a lengthy NBA career. He is one of the main stars of the Chicago Bulls. However, the team announced in February that he will undergo surgery on his right foot ruling him out for the rest of the 2023-24 season.
On the other hand, Flagg uses his 40-inch vertical leap in all facets, whether it is in offense or defense. Duke is looking forward to an outstanding season with the young star as they hope to secure their first national title since 2015.
Will Duke earn their sixth title and first since 2015 with Cooper Flagg leading the charge? Let us know in the comments.
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