March Madness superstar Cooper Flagg admitted it is his ‘dream’ to enter the NBA Draft just 24 hours before Duke’s shock collapse against Houston.
The Duke Blue Devils’ championship hopes are over following their defeat to the Cougars on Saturday night, which saw them miss out on a place in Monday’s title game after blowing a 14-point lead in the second half.
Flagg, the projected No. 1 pick in this year’s NBA Draft, failed to end his college career on a high before he makes the step up to the big leagues as expected.
And before Duke’s stunning meltdown in the Final Four, their star forward broke his silence on a potential move into the NBA.
‘It would be a blessing for me to get drafted [by any] team in the NBA,’ he said Friday, via college basketball insider Adam Zagoria.
‘That’s a dream of mine, to play in the NBA. I would feel completely blessed and honored to play for any team.’
Cooper Flagg admitted it is his ‘dream’ to enter the NBA Draft before Duke’s loss to Houston
Flagg was unable to save the Blue Devils as they crashed out of March Madness on Saturday
After their March Madness exit, Flagg cut a dejected figure as he fielded questions from the media in his postgame press conference.
The 18-year-old could have proved the hero in the dying seconds of Saturday’s game, instead sending his go-ahead fadeaway jumper just short as Houston held on to the victory.
‘It’s the play coach drew up,’ Flagg explained. ‘Took it into the paint. Thought I got my feet set, rose up. Left it short obviously. A shot I’m willing to live with in the scenario.
‘I went up on the rim, trust the work that I’ve put in.’
Flagg was also at the center of controversy in the game after finding himself on the wrong end of a contentious foul call late on, which drew the ire of Duke fans watching on.
However, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy hit out at the Blue Devils and their supporters for blaming the loss on the officials.
‘Duke fans complaining about this foul call are babies,’ Portnoy wrote alongside a clip of the foul call in question on X. ‘You blew it. You couldn’t inbound the ball. You dribbled it off your leg.
‘[Tyrese] Proctor played hero ball and missed free throw. A million chances to seal it and you’re gonna blame the ref? Loser talk from losers.’
