SAN ANTONIO — From their seats seven rows behind Duke’s bench, Ralph and Kelly Flagg had the perfect vantage point of the moment everything turned to dust. With eight seconds left in Saturday’s national semifinal against No. 1 Houston, their son Cooper rose up for the turnaround jumper that legacies are made of. Sink it,…
SAN ANTONIO — J’Wan Roberts extended his hands. Settle down, he begged. Yes, this was impossible. Yes, this whole swirling, bizarre night was on the verge of alchemy. Yes, this was about to be the night that Houston pulled off a comeback so stunning, so jarring, that it will take everyone — specifically those souls…
March Madness is underway, which means it’s time to update The Athletic’s 2025 NBA Mock Draft. Scouts and executives have traveled all over the United States to see conference tournaments, one of the best ways to get eyes on a significant number of prospects in one place. Particularly, the SEC tournament was littered with NBA…
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — It may have taken 31 games, but we finally found something that can slow down Cooper Flagg: A healthy whistle. And a deserved one, at that. Because for the first time this season, against rival North Carolina on Saturday, Flagg was called for three first-half personal fouls — the latter two…
DURHAM, N.C. — It’s 45 minutes after a January blowout at Cameron Indoor Stadium when Cooper Flagg comes walking into the gameday hospitality area for Duke basketball players’ families. No one makes much of a fuss. There’s a game of Pop-A-Shot over here and a pingpong table over there. Tables are filled by moms and…
Throughout the season, Duke freshman forward Cooper Flagg has been considered the 2025 NBA Draft’s likely No. 1 pick. Beginning the season at 17 years old after reclassifying into the 2024 recruiting class, Flagg is among college basketball’s youngest players, and his season started with some growing pains. He averaged 15.2 points while shooting 44…
We’re firmly into conference play in the college basketball season, which means it’s time to update the 2025 NBA Mock Draft here at The Athletic. Why does conference play matter so much more than the nonconference slate? First and foremost, it’s later in the season. Freshmen have had a chance to adjust to the speed…