Kentucky guard Kerr Kriisa sarcastically crowns Cooper Flagg as NBA’s No. 1 pick ahead of Duke matchup
Kentucky senior guard Kerr Kriisa will go head-to-head with Duke freshman Cooper Flagg as the two powerhouse teams meet in the Champions Classic on Tuesday.
Ahead of the highly anticipated matchup at State Farm Arena, Kriisa took a playful jab at Flagg's rising draft stock, crowning him as the future No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft.
Kerr Kriisa told the media on Saturday that the Wildcats are prepared for the Duke challenge and believes the game will be an "exciting" experience for the fans.
"It's gonna be exciting — probably more exciting for fans. They like the Duke-Kentucky matchup. But for us, it's another game," Kerr said.
"Obviously, the whole world is talking about Cooper Flagg. So I'm excited to play against the number one draft pick. Congrats to him on that already."
Both Kentucky (No. 23) and Duke (No. 7) have opened the season with two wins. The Wildcats scored over 100 points in both games, while the Blue Devils have also been dominant in their first two outings.
Cooper Flagg posted 18 points and seven rebounds in his debut and scored 13 points with 11 rebounds in his second game against the Army Black Knights.
Meanwhile, Kerr Kriisa dished out five assists in a win against Wright State and tallied 12 assists in a victory over Bucknell.
Kentucky coach Mark Pope has high expectations for Kerr Kriisa
Mark Pope has been heavily impressed by the Estonian point guard Kerr Kriisa who joined Kentucky this season. Kriisa played three seasons at Arizona before transferring to West Virginia last year.
After Saturday night's game, where Kriisa had an impressive four rebounds and a 12-assist performance against Bucknell, Pope shared his thoughts on the player's potential.
"I have to be careful. I think I knew exactly who I was getting. I've been recruiting Kerr for I think seven years or something," Mark said. "I'm telling you he's a really special player. He's a really special young man."
Kerr Kriisa has played 35 minutes this season and has already made 17 assists with only three turnovers.
"When I say I don’t play for stats, I want to be the guy on pace terms. I want to really push it," Kerr said after the game.
It was a memorable night for Kriisa, not only because of his impressive on-court performance but also because his mother, Kersti Kull, was in the stands to watch him play.