From his first game to the end of March Madness, Cooper Flagg looked like he belonged in the NBA already. He was blocking shots, draining threes, throwing down dunks, and doing stuff that made you think, “Wait, this guy’s only 18??”

Cooper’s first college game felt like something out of a movie. Duke’s stadium was packed, and the crowd was going crazy before he even touched the ball. Then when he finally got in the game boom. He scored 23 points, got 11 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks. IN HIS FIRST GAME. Everyone watching just kind of sat there like, “Yeah, he’s for real.”

Even Duke’s coach, Jon Scheyer, said after the game, “He’s different.” And he wasn’t wrong.

All season long, Cooper was balling out. He averaged almost 20 points a game (19.7 to be exact), 8.5 rebounds, and was also passing the ball and blocking shots like crazy. He even shot nearly 40% from three, which is kind of unfair for someone who’s 6’9″.

And get this he played defense too. Like, actual lockdown defense. He wasn’t just putting up flashy numbers. He was hustling, diving for loose balls, and guarding the other team’s best player half the time. That’s not something you see from freshmen very often.

You know the Duke vs. UNC rivalry, right? It’s always intense. Well, in January, Cooper went off in that game. It was at UNC’s place, and he dropped 29 points with 10 rebounds. But it wasn’t just the stats it was the way he did it.

Late in the game, with everything on the line, he chased down a fast break and blocked a layup so hard it looked like something out of a video game. Then he came down the court and hit a deep three like it was nothing. Game over. Duke won. Cooper walked off the court like a superhero.

A couple of weeks later, against Virginia (a top 5 team), he got a triple-double: 21 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists. That’s a big deal. Only a few Duke players in history have ever done that, and he did it as a freshman. That game really showed how complete his game is he’s not just a scorer, he makes everyone around him better.

Here’s the thing about Cooper he doesn’t just play well, he leads. He’s always talking to his teammates, keeping everyone locked in, and staying calm even when things get crazy. You’d think someone as hyped as him might be cocky or all about themselves, but he’s actually super chill and focused.

One time after scoring 34 points, a reporter asked him about his big game, and he just said, “The ball found me. We got the win that’s what matters.” Like, come on. That’s leadership.

When the tournament started, Cooper turned it up even more. In the Sweet 16 against Arizona, he scored 31 points and basically carried Duke to the Elite Eight. Every game felt like a highlight reel step-back threes, crazy blocks, fast-break slams. Social media was blowing up every time he touched the ball.

In the Final Four, Duke played UConn in a super intense game. Cooper had 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 blocks. He did everything he could, but Duke came up just short. Even UConn’s coach said after the game, “That guy’s the future of basketball.” Respect.

After a season like that, it’s no surprise that pretty much every NBA scout is calling Cooper the #1 pick for next year’s draft. He hasn’t officially said if he’s going pro yet, but let’s be real he’s probably going. And he should.

People are already comparing him to legends like Kevin Durant, Zion Williamson, and Anthony Davis. And honestly? It’s not a stretch.

One of the coolest things about Cooper is how he handles all the fame. He’s got big-time endorsement deals already (he signed with Nike during the season), but you’d never know it from how he acts. He’s humble, he works hard, and he always gives credit to his teammates and coaches.

Also, fun fact he’s from Maine. Not exactly the first place you think of for basketball stars, but that just makes his story even better.

So yeah, Cooper Flagg’s freshman year was one for the history books. He came into Duke with a ton of pressure, and he somehow lived up to all of it. He’s not just a highlight machine he’s the full package: scorer, defender, leader, and future NBA star.

Whether he plays another year in college or goes straight to the league, one thing’s for sure this is just the beginning.