The North Carolina Tar Heels once again stumbled out of the gate on Saturday, a recurring issue this season. This time, however, their slow start came against a team that made them pay dearly—the Duke Blue Devils. Cooper Flagg, Duke’s standout freshman, stole the spotlight in the first half, showcasing his exceptional talent and leaving fans and analysts in awe. Among those captivated by Flagg’s performance was Dick Vitale, a longtime college basketball icon, who took to social media to express his admiration.
“In my 45 years at ESPN, I’ve never seen a player as young as Cooper Flagg with such incredible skill—he’s in a league of his own. He’s THAT GOOD!” Vitale tweeted during the first half. Duke’s dominance was evident on the scoreboard, as they surged to a commanding 47-25 lead over the Tar Heels by halftime.
Vitale isn’t the only one singing Flagg’s praises. The Duke star has been the talk of the college basketball world for years, with analysts nationwide lauding his abilities. On ESPN’s *College GameDay* ahead of the Duke-UNC showdown, Jay Bilas joined the chorus of admirers, highlighting Flagg’s unique impact.
“I believe he’s the most advanced freshman Duke has ever had in every aspect of the game, and that’s saying something considering the incredible freshmen they’ve had,” Bilas said. “I’m not saying he’s the most talented—there’s Jayson Tatum, Kyrie Irving, and others. But in terms of competitiveness, he’s on a different level. He’s the most competitive freshman I’ve ever seen.”
Bilas added, “It’s hard to quantify that because so many players are competitive, but with Cooper, it’s just different. He’s special.”
Flagg’s stellar performance and the accolades from basketball legends like Vitale and Bilas underscore his rising star power, making him one of the most exciting players to watch in college basketball this season.
