“He’s even bigger in person”: Basketball analyst admits getting stunned after watching Cooper Flagg live
Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg is deemed the face of college basketball today with his dominance and poise on the court. The 6-foot-9 18-year-old is a force to be reckoned with as he constantly creates havoc, leading his team to an 8-0 ACC record.
There was another indication of this on Saturday, when the second-ranked Blue Devils took on the Boston College Eagles and won dominantly by 26 points, 88-63. Flagg was named the player of the game after he finished with a game-high 28 markers on just five misses, five rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks.
One of the members of the crowd in awe of Flagg during the conference fixture was basketball analyst Kevin O'Connor. During the latest episode of his podcast, O'Connor raves about the first-year swingman.
"I saw on Saturday, in Boston, Cooper Flagg in person. I'd never seen him live. We already know he's the No. 1 pick in this year's draft. We know he's a dominant force," he said.
"But, I wanted to see the way it felt in person. He ended up with 28 points on 9-of-14 from the floor. He's even quicker. He feels even bigger in person, you can see that with the spin moves. He's flexing and yelling. I don't know if the broadcast caught that but it's a 20-point game," O'Connor added.
"I come away loving Flagg even more after seeing him in person," he concluded.
The freshman sensation is becoming larger than life day by day as he continues to pad on to his one-and-done stint and is even projected to break program records when it's all said and done.
John Fanta says Cooper Flagg will be a "slam dunk" at the next level
College basketball broadcaster John Fanta, who was guested on O'Connor's show, echoed the same sentiments when it came to Cooper Flagg. To him, the mindset that the Newport, Maine native possesses game in and game out is what will propel him towards a successful career post-college.
"That's the biggest thing that comes to mind with Cooper Flagg, the competitive nature. He is going to be a slam dunk at the next level because he was playing like a pro in high school. He does not take a play off. It's like he's wired like a high-tech IBM machine. That's what Flagg reminds me off on both ends of the floor," Fanta shared. (0:26)
"I have not seen the defensive traits like Flagg at the age of 18," he concluded.
Flagg and the rest of the Blue Devils will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 25, to duke it out against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on the road.