Duke freshman Cooper Flagg wins Wooden Award as the top men's player in the country
Posted April 5, 2025 5:22 p.m. EDT
Updated April 5, 2025 9:08 p.m. EDT
Duke freshman Cooper Flagg will leave this basketball season with one of the biggest individual awards in the country. Flagg was announced as the men's winner of the John R. Wooden Award on Saturday ahead of Duke's Final Four game against the Houston Cougars.
Flagg is the fourth freshman to win the award on the men's side. The first since Duke freshman Zion Williamson in the 2018-19 season. The other two players to win the award as freshman are Anthony Davis and Kevin Durant. It's the seventh time a Duke player has won, the most in the history of the Wooden Award.
Flagg was also named the AP men's basketball player of the year on Friday.
“It’s a surreal feeling,” Flagg said after winning the AP player of the year honor. “I think this whole tournament process so far has been kind of surreal for me.
“These are the moments you dream about as a little kid. This is the biggest stage of college basketball, so I’m just trying to cherish these moments with my teammates that we have left. I mean, the road ends here, so I’m just enjoying the last moments we have together and this whole process has been surreal.”
Flagg leads Duke in scoring (18.9 points per game), rebounding (7.5 per game), assists (4.2 per game) and steals (1.4 per game). He ranks second on the team in blocks (1.3) behind fellow freshman Khaman Maluach (1.3).
“He plays so hard, he's competitive, a great teammate," Scheyer said after the Blue Devils' home finale, “and obviously, his ability is special.”
