Sun Mar 30 21:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Barkley Raves About Duke’s Flagg Ahead of Elite Eight Clash
**NEW YORK** – Charles Barkley heaped praise on Duke freshman Cooper Flagg, calling the 17-year-old a “terrific young player” and expressing excitement about his future NBA career. Barkley’s comments, made Friday on the Dan Patrick Show, came ahead of Duke’s crucial Elite Eight matchup against Alabama on Saturday.
Flagg, the consensus No. 1 overall NBA draft pick, led the top-seeded Blue Devils to a Sweet 16 victory over Arizona, scoring a game-high 30 points alongside impressive rebounding, assist, and blocking numbers. Barkley noted Flagg’s maturity, highlighting his ability to handle the immense pressure of being a highly touted prospect. “He could have had a ‘big head’,” Barkley said, referencing the pressures faced by young stars, “but he’s lived up to the hype. He hasn’t had any missteps.”
The former NBA MVP went on to say that comparing Flagg to other great players would be a disservice, emphasizing his enjoyment of watching the young star play.
Flagg’s already impressive season includes ACC regular season and tournament titles, USBWA National Player of the Year honors, and ACC Player and Rookie of the Year accolades. He leads Duke in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, and minutes played, averaging 19.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.4 steals per game. Three wins stand between Flagg and his first national championship with Duke since 2015.
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