Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Product Cooper Flagg Shorter Than Advertised

The projected No. 1 overall draft pick may have grown a bit in his one-and-done Duke basketball campaign.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball guard Tyrese Proctor and forward Cooper Flagg
Duke basketball guard Tyrese Proctor and forward Cooper Flagg / Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
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Recruiting sites listed Cooper Flagg at 6-foot-9 when the eventual Duke basketball superstar was a senior at Montverde Academy in Florida. And the phenom talent from Maine, projected to hear his name No. 1 overall at the 2025 NBA Draft in Brooklyn's Barclays Center on June 25, has appeared as a 6-foot-9, 225-pounder on his official Blue Devil bio page since his arrival in Durham.

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But as ESPN draft guru Jonathan Givony reported in the following post at the NBA Draft Combine on Monday afternoon, Flagg checked in at only 6-foot-7 and 3/4 inches standing barefoot this week.

Givony added that Flagg has grown "nearly an inch in the past year, while adding 12 pounds." So, when folks were listing him at 6-foot-9 last spring, he was just then able to round up to 6-foot-7.

Exaggerated heights via shoe measurements are nothing new in basketball, of course.

Moreover, many of his real measurements, not to mention the versatile repertoire that he put on full display in racking up national and ACC honors galore as a mere Duke basketball rookie, are off the charts. Flagg, who will find out his probable landing spot during the NBA Draft Lottery at 7 p.m. ET Monday (ESPN), boasts a 7-foot wingspan and a standing reach over 8-foot-10.

Cooper Flagg led the 35-win 2024-25 Blue Devils, a squad that reached the Final Four after capturing the ACC Tournament and regular season titles, in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks per game.

Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI for more Duke basketball news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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