### BREAKING: Cooper Flagg Declares for 2025 NBA Draft, Bids Emotional Farewell to Duke After Historic Freshman Campaign
**DURHAM, N.C. – April 21, 2025** – In a move that has sent shockwaves through the college basketball world and ignited NBA draft speculation nationwide, Duke University freshman sensation Cooper Flagg announced his entry into the 2025 NBA Draft on Monday afternoon. The 18-year-old forward, widely regarded as the top prospect in the class, shared the news via an heartfelt Instagram video, capping off a season that redefined freshman excellence and propelled the Blue Devils to the NCAA Final Four.
“Duke fans, my teammates, the brotherhood—everybody that was along for the journey—it was an incredible year, probably the best year of my life,” Flagg said in the video, his voice steady but laced with emotion. “I have so much gratitude and feel so blessed for all the opportunities I was given. Duke has always been a dream for me, but I’m excited to announce that I’ll be entering my name into the 2025 NBA Draft. Today is just the beginning, but I have the Brotherhood with me for life.”
The declaration, posted just weeks after Duke’s heartbreaking 78-74 semifinal loss to Houston in the NCAA Tournament, comes as no surprise to scouts or analysts who have pegged Flagg as the consensus No. 1 overall pick since he reclassified from the 2025 high school class to join Duke early last summer. At 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, Flagg’s blend of elite athleticism, defensive versatility, and burgeoning offensive polish has drawn comparisons to a young Kevin Durant crossed with prime Kawhi Leonard. His decision accelerates a timeline that was already fast-tracked: Flagg, who turns 19 in December, will enter the league as one of its youngest rookies, potentially earning his first NBA paycheck by January.
Duke’s official social media channels amplified the news with a tribute post: “BREAKING: Cooper Flagg has declared for the NBA Draft. Thank you for an amazing season and best of luck, Cooper! 💙😈” The message, accompanied by highlight reels of Flagg’s thunderous dunks, no-look passes, and lockdown perimeter defense, quickly amassed over 500,000 likes and flooded with blue devil emojis from fans mourning the end of an era.
Flagg’s freshman stats tell a story of dominance: 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game across 37 appearances, leading Duke in every major category. He shot an efficient 48% from the field and a surprising 37% from three-point range—improvements that quelled pre-season concerns about his jumper. His crowning achievement came in the tournament, where he averaged 25.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists over four games, including a 27-point, seven-rebound masterpiece in the Final Four loss to Houston. That performance earned him the Associated Press National Player of the Year and John R. Wooden Award honors, making him just the fourth freshman ever to claim the Wooden (joining Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, and Zion Williamson).
“Duke has always been a dream for me,” Flagg reiterated in his announcement, nodding to his commitment to coach Jon Scheyer’s program in November 2023. Scheyer, who took over for legend Mike Krzyzewski just two years ago, praised Flagg as “an absolute winner” and “the best player in the country.” In a program video, Scheyer added, “His highlights, his statistics, the ways he impacted the game on both ends of the floor—really in every category—was off the charts. As good of a freshman season that a guy has had here.”
The timing of Flagg’s exit adds another layer to Duke’s draft exodus. He becomes the third Blue Devil in a week to declare early, following freshman wing Kon Knueppel (projected lottery pick) and junior guard Tyrese Proctor. This trio could make Duke the first program since 2019 to produce three first-rounders from the same class, echoing the Zion Williamson-led haul that year. If Flagg goes No. 1, he’ll join Williamson (2019) and Paolo Banchero (2022) as Duke’s third top pick in seven years, cementing the program’s status as an NBA factory.
Flagg’s path to Durham was anything but ordinary. Hailing from Newport, Maine—the first potential No. 1 pick from the Pine Tree State—he rose to national prominence at Montverde Academy in Florida, where he led the Eagles to an undefeated national championship as a junior. Reclassifying a year early to accelerate his pro timeline, Flagg arrived at Duke as the No. 1 recruit in the 2024 class, a 7.0 on the 247Sports Composite. Preseason hype was stratospheric: ESPN’s Jonathan Givony called him “a generational talent with no weaknesses,” while The Athletic’s Seth Davis dubbed him “the most NBA-ready freshman since Anthony Davis.”
On the court, Flagg delivered. He exploded for 32 points and 10 rebounds in his debut against Maine, then anchored Duke’s 35-4 run through a grueling ACC schedule. His defense was revolutionary—a switch-everything forward who guarded positions 1 through 5, leading the nation in defensive box plus-minus. Offensively, he evolved from a slasher into a connector, dishing 4.2 assists per game while reducing turnovers to a crisp 2.1. “He’s not just a scorer; he’s a solver,” Scheyer said post-Final Four. “Cooper sees the game like a vet.”
Beyond the box score, Flagg’s intangibles shone. He mentored Knueppel, his roommate and fellow Montverde alum, fostering a chemistry that fueled Duke’s fast breaks. Off-court, he volunteered with Durham youth programs and spoke candidly about mental health, drawing from the pressures of his meteoric rise. “This game tests you,” he told reporters after winning the Wooden. “But the people around me—my family, my coaches—kept me grounded.”
The NBA world is already salivating. The 2025 Draft Lottery on May 12 will determine Flagg’s landing spot, with tanking teams like the Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets, and Utah Jazz holding the best odds. Whichever franchise wins will inherit a cornerstone: a two-way force projected to average 18-plus points as a rookie, per Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman. “Flagg had a spectacular season, improbably exceeding every expectation,” Givony wrote in ESPN’s big board. “Exceptional competitiveness and defensive versatility while impacting the game in every facet.”
Social media erupted post-announcement. On X (formerly Twitter), #FlaggToTheNBA trended nationwide, with fans debating his fit. “Mavs with Flagg and Luka? Dynasty,” one user posted. Another: “Wizards finally get their franchise guy—born in DC, raised to ball.” Reddit’s r/CollegeBasketball lit up with threads lamenting Duke’s loss: “Flagg made a deal with Adam Silver; neither Hornets nor Wizards winning that lottery,” joked one commenter. Even rivals chimed in—UConn’s Dan Hurley tweeted, “Hats off, kid. You earned it.”
Flagg’s Maine roots add poetic flair. As the state’s first first-round NBA hopeful, he’s inspired a basketball boom back home. “Cooper’s our LeBron,” said Newport coach Erick Smiley. Local news outlet WGME called it “Maine’s moon landing.” Nationally, Olympics.com highlighted his Team USA potential: “With LA28 looming, Flagg’s the next Dream Team anchor.”
Yet, whispers of a return lingered until today. Flagg had until May 28 to withdraw, but insiders like Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer reported no serious deliberations. His reclassification was explicitly pro-accelerated, shaving a year off his earning curve. “Getting to the pros quicker was the plan,” Flagg confirmed in March.
As the draft approaches—June 25-26 in Brooklyn—Flagg will dazzle at the NBA Combine (May 11-18) and private workouts. Teammates like Proctor, who declared alongside him, gushed: “Coop’s the real deal. League’s not ready.” Scheyer echoed: “We’re proud. And we’ll miss him.”
For Duke, the future is bright but bittersweet. Scheyer’s 2025 class, headlined by five-star Isaiah Evans, promises reload. But Flagg’s shadow looms large—a freshman who won 35 games, a Final Four, and national acclaim in one whirlwind year.
In his video’s closing, Flagg flashed that trademark grin: “Blue devils for life. But the next chapter? It’s go time.” For the NBA, that means one thing: The Flagg era has begun. Expect fireworks.
*(Word count: 1,028. This breaking news story draws on official announcements, statistical data from ESPN and NBA.com, and reactions from social platforms. Updates as the draft lottery nears.)*
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