The Duke Blue Devils, powered by Cooper Flagg, the top prospect in the 2025 NBA Draft, are shaping up to be the team to watch in college basketball this season. On Saturday, Duke secured another victory, extending their winning streak with a hard-fought 86-78 win over Notre Dame, thanks to a dominant performance from their freshman standout.
Flagg was unstoppable in his 36 minutes on the court, setting a new freshman scoring record for Duke with 42 points. He achieved this on an efficient 11-for-14 shooting, including 4-for-6 from beyond the arc. He also contributed across the board with six rebounds, seven assists, and a steal, while drawing contact consistently and earning 17 free-throw attempts, converting 16 of them.
COOPER FLAGG TODAY:
42 POINTS (CAREER-HIGH)
7 ASSISTS
6 REBOUNDS
11/14 FG
4/6 3P🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/nV5crrDT8t
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 11, 2025
His performance broke the previous Duke freshman scoring record of 35 points set by Zion Williamson and marked the first 40-point game by a Blue Devil since JJ Redick nearly 20 years ago. Fans on social media were quick to celebrate Flagg’s historic outing, with many hailing him as the clear favorite for the top pick in the NBA Draft.
Comments poured in, with fans describing his performance as “video game numbers” and praising his remarkable efficiency. One fan humorously remarked that he’s “the reason teams are freely tanking,” highlighting his immense value as a future NBA player. Another fan noted, “42 points on 14 shots is solid. He had a great night at the line too.”
Flagg’s NBA potential has drawn comparisons to elite players like Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant, and Anthony Davis. While his perimeter game is not yet as refined as Tatum’s or Durant’s, his interior scoring and defensive versatility set him apart. Flagg’s performance against Notre Dame further underscored his growing ability to shoot from long range, as he hit 66% of his three-point attempts during the game. On the defensive end, his shot-blocking and grit draw favorable comparisons to Anthony Davis.
As the projected number one pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, Flagg has already established himself as a rare talent capable of making an immediate impact at the professional level. While there is still room for development, his performance shows he’s on a trajectory to become one of the league’s brightest stars.