BREAKING: Nation’s No. 1 Recruit, Cooper Flagg, Stuns Basketball World, Reclassifies and Flips Commitment to Duke
DURHAM, N.C. — In a move that has sent seismic shockwaves through the world of college basketball, Cooper Flagg—the transcendent 6-foot-9 forward from Montverde Academy and the undisputed No. 1 prospect in the class of 2025—has announced he is reclassifying to 2024 and flipping his longstanding commitment to the UConn Huskies, instead choosing to play for Jon Scheyer and the Duke Blue Devils.
The dual announcement, made via a live broadcast on ESPN, represents a recruiting coup of almost unprecedented magnitude for Duke and a devastating, paradigm-shifting loss for the reigning back-to-back national champions. Flagg, a generational two-way talent from Maine whose combination of defensive genius, playmaking, and scoring has drawn comparisons to a young Andrei Kirilenko with offensive superstar potential, had been verbally committed to Dan Hurley and UConn for over a year.
“This was the most difficult decision I’ve ever made, but it’s about the ultimate challenge and the best path for my growth,” Flagg said, a Duke cap now on the table before him. “The legacy of Duke Basketball, Coach Scheyer’s vision for my game, and the chance to compete at the very highest level from day one is a unique opportunity. I believe in what they are building in Durham, and I’m ready to be a part of it. Let’s go Duke.”
For Head Coach Jon Scheyer, this is a legacy-defining victory. To not only secure the nation’s top player but to pry him away from the sport’s current preeminent power solidifies his reputation as an elite recruiter and proves the enduring, magnetic pull of the Duke brand in the post-Krzyzewski era. It demonstrates Duke can still win the most consequential battles, even against a program coming off consecutive titles.
The on-court implications are historic. By reclassifying, Flagg will join a 2024 Duke roster already brimming with elite talent, including guards Caleb Foster and Tyrese Proctor, instantly making the Blue Devils the presumptive preseason No. 1 team for the 2024-25 season. Flagg is a defensive anchor and offensive engine capable of transforming a team’s ceiling from Final Four contender to national championship favorite overnight.
The ramifications are profound and far-reaching. For UConn, losing its program-defining recruit is a monumental setback, altering the long-term trajectory of its budding dynasty. For the ACC, it re-establishes Duke as the conference’s overwhelming center of gravity. For the national landscape, Flagg’s move signals that even in an era dominated by the transfer portal, the commitment of a singular, program-altering high school prospect remains the sport’s most powerful currency.
Flagg’s decision is more than a simple recruitment flip; it is a tectonic shift in the balance of power. It places Jon Scheyer’s program back at the epicenter of the sport’s conversation and delivers a once-in-a-decade talent to Cameron Indoor Stadium. The college basketball world has been put on immediate notice: the Blue Devils are not merely reloading—they are assembling a super-team, with Cooper Flagg as its crown jewel. The chase for the 2025 national championship may have just found its overwhelming favorite in Durham.
