Duke's Cooper Flagg leads star-studded AP preseason All-America team packed with NCAAB's biggest names
Cooper Flagg is arguably the most exciting prospect heading into the 2024-25 season. The Duke Blue Devils' top recruit earned another piece of recognition ahead of his maiden season in college basketball, as he earned a spot on AP's Preseason All-America team.
In the team released Monday, Flagg took the fifth and final spot on the team. In fact, the team comprises six players as he shared the spot with Arizona Wildcats guard Caleb Love. Alabama's Mark Sears came closest to earning a unanimous selection, as he received all but one of 55 votes from the national media panel.
RJ Davis, who starred for the North Carolina Tar Heels last season, earned 51 of 55 votes to earn a place on the team. Kansas Jayhawks center Hunter Dickinson, who earned consensus second-team All-American honors last season, and Auburn Tigers forward Johni Broome also joined them.
Cooper Flagg the only freshman on AP's Preseason All-America team
The ceiling for Cooper Flagg is extremely high, as he is the only freshman in AP's Preseason All-America team. He received 24 out of the 55 votes from the national media poll, as the team comprised two players each from the Atlantic Coast Conference, Southeastern Conference and the Big 12.
Despite reclassifying from the Class of 2025 to the Class of 2024, Flagg emerged as the nation's top prospect. He starred for Montverde Academy in Florida, with his senior season arguably being the most successful in his high school basketball career.
Flagg averaged 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.7 blocks, leading Montverde Academy to the Chipotle High School Nationals title with a 33-0 record. His exploits won him the Naismith Player of the Year and the Gatorade National Player of the Year Awards, and he also took part in the McDonald's All-American game this April.
Flagg also represented the USA Men's Select Team in a scrimmage against Team USA ahead of the Paris Olympics. So far, he's won him praise from some of the biggest legends in the game, including LeBron James and Kevin Garnett.
Flagg, who hails from Newport, Maine, will begin his freshman season with the Blue Devils with a home game against the Maine Black Bears on Nov. 4.