With all eyes on him, Cooper Flagg seeks to find home at Duke - ESPN

DURHAM, N.C. — Duke freshman Cooper Flagg may be the most hyped player to hit the court at Cameron Indoor Stadium since Zion Williamson, but the impression he has made among the Blue Devils through his first few weeks on campus, coach Jon Scheyer said, is that he's just one of the guys.

Flagg, the nation's No. 1 overall recruit, was lauded as a high school player for iconic moments in all-star games and YouTube highlights, but as the Blue Devils get set to open the 2024-25 season on Oct. 19, Scheyer said Flagg has done his best to avoid the hype and embrace the competition.

«I've seen a lot of different seasons, different hype, different expectations,» Scheyer said. «And with Cooper, I don't know if we've ever had a 17-year-old with this much hype and attention. We talk about all the things we can control, and that's what we focus on. Cooper, I don't think he likes all the attention, to be honest. He's all about just wanting to be like the other guys — wanting to win, wanting to compete. And he's done a great job of setting the tone for all of that.»

Flagg, speaking at Duke's team media day Friday, said he has taken his share of selfies with fans and has enjoyed the experience of being on campus, particularly since classes have started and he has had more time to interact with students outside the basketball team.

«There's always eyes everywhere. When I first got here, some of the students were kind of going crazy,» Flagg said. «But it's a compliment that shows all the hard work you've put in and people are wanting to see you and support you.»

The Blue Devils have six true freshmen on this year's roster, including Flagg, all of whom were ranked among the 40 best prospects in the nation. One of those freshmen, center