Duke Confirms Cooper Flagg Will Play NCAA Opener After Ankle Injury

The freshman All-American, pivotal to Duke's championship hopes, has been cleared for Friday’s game against Mount St. Mary’s following a full recovery.

Cooper Flagg, Duke's star freshman, has been cleared to play in their NCAA Tournament opener after recovering from a sprained left ankle sustained in the ACC quarterfinals.
Flagg returned to full practice on March 19 and reported being pain-free with full mobility ahead of the tournament opener on March 21.
Duke enters the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 seed in the East Region with a 31-3 record and an 11-game winning streak, aiming for their first national championship in a decade.
Despite Flagg’s absence, Duke won the ACC Tournament, showcasing their depth and resilience with standout performances from other players like Kon Knueppel.
Head coach Jon Scheyer faces heightened expectations in his third season, with Flagg leading the team in scoring, rebounding, and assists and projected as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.