As Cooper Flagg checked out of his likely final home game at Cameron Indoor Stadium Monday night, Duke fans chanted, “One more year, one more year.”
The 6-foot-9 Flagg finished with 28 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals, including a monster two-handed transition dunk, as No. 2 Duke routed Wake Forest, 93-60, to capture the ACC regular-season championship. The Blue Devils finished a perfect 17-0 at home and improved to 27-3, 18-1 ACC.
Flagg’s parents, Ralph and Kelly, flashed broad smiles as fans cheered for their 18-year-old son to return for his sophomore season.
In his post-game interview, Flagg, the presumptive No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, was asked if there was any chance he would return next season.
“Listen, I’m just living in the moment, I’m going day-by-day with this team, practice by practice and we’re just going to finish out this year,” Flagg said on ESPN.
Flagg reclassified a year to get to college last fall, when he was just 17. That also sped up his NBA clock, making him eligible for this year’s draft.
In an interview last month with The Athletic, Flagg said he would ideally “want to come back next year.”
Still, one Duke source told NJ Advance Media of that possibility, “No chance.”
Illinois coach Brad Underwood recently said he hopes Flagg stays at Duke another year, and believes he “probably” could make more money in college than in the NBA.
“Sure, not even close [that he’s the best player in college basketball]. I hope he stays in school,” Underwood said in response to a question from NJ Advance Media after Flagg went for 16 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists in his Madison Square Garden debut as No. 3 Duke hammered the Illini, 110-67, on Feb. 23.
“I mean, if I’m the NCAA or the ACC, I’m figuring out an NIL deal to keep that dude in school because he’s everything that’s right about our game. I mean, college basketball is in a great place, and we’ve got guys like that coming in. I hope he stays. Somebody threw out some story about it and I hope he stays. Man, he’d be great. He could probably make more here than he could in the NBA.
Flagg has had a brilliant freshman season and leads Duke in scoring (19.6 ppg), rebounding (7.5 rpg), assists (4.2 apg), steals (1.6 spg) and blocks (1.2 bpg)
Flagg and Auburn’s Johni Broome are the top contenders for National Player of the Year.
“Everything I could’ve expected and way more,” Flagg said. “It’s been the best year of my life, I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”
Per Tankathon.com, Washington, Charlotte and Utah each hold a 14% chance at the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft that will also feature Rutgers stars Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper. New Orleans has a 12.5% shot at the No. 1 pick, followed by Toronto (10.5), Brooklyn (8.3) and Philadelphia (8.2).
The NBA Draft Lottery is set for May 12.
Duke closes out the regular season at rival North Carolina on Saturday.
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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter and Basketball Insider for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.com.