Duke star Cooper Flagg goes through practice, ready to go for tourney opener

Duke forward Cooper Flagg said he is feeling fine and ready to roll for the NCAA Tournament opener.

Flagg is widely considered the top prospect for the 2025 NBA Draft. He rolled his ankle in an ACC semifinal against Georgia Tech, missing the championship win over Louisville. He said he went through an entire practice Wednesday, though.

“We’ve been working through the steps of just getting back to 100 percent, and I feel very good,” Flagg told reporters, via ESPN’s David Hale. “I’m very confident moving forward.”

The Blue Devils open the NCAA tourney Friday vs. Mount St. Mary’s in Raleigh, N.C.

Flagg hasn’t needed any protective footwear and reportedly is moving without issue.

“He’s been itching to get out there,” coach Jon Scheyer said. “I think that says a lot about who he is because a lot of guys would be more patient or not as anxious to get out there. That’s just not the way he’s wired, his family, everybody with them.”

Flagg is averaging 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. A consensus All-American, he’s considered a finalist for national player of the year.

“From the start of the week, it was kind of like a buildup of jumping back into practice, getting back to 100 percent, doing some individual things with some of the coaches on the side,” he said. “Then I was back at full practice [Wednesday].”