Duke star Cooper Flagg is headed to the NBA as the favorite to be the No. 1 overall draft pick.
The program following a lone college season that saw the 18-year-old become only the fourth freshman named as while leading the Blue Devils to the Final Four.
Flagg had reclassified to get to Duke a year early, and his decision was expected all year, even as he as the season pushed into March or mentioned how much fun he had playing in college.
鈥淚 mean, it's been an incredible year with a really great group of people," Flagg told the AP in March after winning national player of the year.
The 6-foot-9, 205-pound forward from Newport, Maine, averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals to lead the Blue Devils in each category. He鈥檚 a versatile threat who showed the ability to thrive as a scorer, playmaker and defender.
鈥淗is highlights, his statistics, the ways he impacted the game on both ends of the floor, really in every category, was off the charts 鈥� as good of a freshman season that a guy has had here,鈥� Duke coach Jon Scheyer said .
鈥淏ut to me the separator and the joy of coaching Cooper is the person he was every day, the teammate that he was 鈥� never about statistics or anything other than creating an environment and helping his team to win.鈥�
The statistical highlight came against Notre Dame in January, along with having 30 points, six rebounds and seven assists in the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16. There were plenty of impressive single plays, too, that demanded highlight-reel placement like in January.
Flagg closed with 27 points and seven rebounds in a loss to Houston in the national semifinals. The , with Houston scoring the game鈥檚 last nine points in the final 33 seconds and Flagg missing a late shot for the lead.
Still, he was an elite and hypercompetitive force for one of college basketball鈥檚 top teams all season with a game far more advanced than his age, capable of making an impact from baseline to baseline and sideline to sideline. He won't turn 19 until December, which would be roughly two months into his rookie season.
Flagg is the third Duke player to announce an early exit for the NBA in the past week, joining and
___
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up . AP college basketball: and
Aaron Beard, The Associated Press
