Cooper Flagg learning to deal with hype at Duke: ‘I don’t think he likes the attention’

The mania around Cooper Flagg at Duke is here. And it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.

Flagg, the Class of 2024’s most-hyped recruit and projected 2025 No. 1 NBA Draft pick, spoke publicly Friday for the first time since starting his career with the Blue Devils.

Sporting a “Dream Biggest” Duke T-shirt, the 6-foot-9 freshman forward sounded confident and excited about Duke officially beginning practice this week. It has been a whirlwind start to college for the program’s biggest recruit since Zion Williamson — whom even former President Barack Obama came to Durham to see play — but Flagg is handling it as best he can.

goooooo @Cooper_Flagg 😈😈🦾 pic.twitter.com/Ie6lLNpJZK

— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) September 27, 2024

“I think as far as hype and all that goes, that’s something that you learn to deal with. And for me, it’s just about playing basketball, so I’m excited to get going with our team,” Flagg told reporters in Durham.

“We have an incredible group of guys. I’ve gotten to know everybody on the team really well. So I’m just really excited to get going. As far as the hype for me, I just focus on playing basketball and trying to win every day.”

Flagg, who is from Newport, Maine, and already has a shoe deal with New Balance, was originally a member of the 2025 recruiting class, but reclassified to 2024 in August of last year. His parents are Blue Devils fans who often had the basketball team on the family’s television at home while Flagg grew up with his two brothers.

Flagg committed to Duke in October. With him on the floor, the Blue Devils should be a contender against anyone.

“I’ve seen a lot of different seasons, different hype, different expectations. With Cooper, I don’t know if we’ve ever had a 17-year-old with as much attention around him — and a lot of it rightfully so with the high school career he’s had and what he’s done,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer told reporters.

“But we talk about all the things we can control. And that’s been our focus,” Scheyer  said. “Cooper does an amazing job of coming to practice to work every day. I don’t think he likes the attention, to be honest. I think he’s all about, he wants to be just like the other guys in terms of not caring about the attention, wanting to win, wanting to compete.”

Flagg will play in front ofBlue Devils fans next week for the first time at the program’s “Countdown to Craziness” event on Oct. 4, ahead of Duke opening its season on Oct. 19 with an exhibition against Lincoln (Pa.) University. In the meantime, Flagg will continue to settle in Durham.

Coop brings the 🔒🔒🔒 @Cooper_Flagg pic.twitter.com/JDOx0BrLSd

— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) September 27, 2024

“He’s 17. So, beginning of the season, he’s going to go through some stuff. That’s part of it,” Scheyer said.

“But being there for him in those moments and growing as a player is why he came to Duke. So I want this to be — I want him to enjoy this year. I want him to enjoy the practices, enjoy being a student at Duke, enjoy with his teammates and obviously work like crazy to become a better player. And that’s what we’re doing on a daily basis.”

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(Photo: Grant Halverson / Getty Images)