Photo credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Duke Basketball: Cooper Flagg's Mom Helps Recruit Five-Star Guard
They already boast a five-deep 2024 haul that ranks No. 1 in the country. Even so, second-year Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his crew seem to be targeting two more undecided high school seniors: Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) five-star guard VJ Edgecombe and NBA Academy Africa five-star center Khaman Maluach.
Edgecombe, a 6-foot-5, 180-pound explosive talent who sits at No. 5 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite, has the Blue Devils among his 11 finalists and visited Duke the same October weekend as Countdown to Craziness.
He was there alongside the program's now-signees in the cycle, including the top-ranked prep in Montverde (Fla.) five-star forward Cooper Flagg.
Now, judging by recent activity on social media from Flagg's mom, Kelly Flagg, it sure looks as though at least she sees Scheyer & Co. still deep in contention for Edgecombe. That makes sense, given the 247Sports Crystal Ball continues to paint the Blue Devils as the favorite.
In the comments under a post from HS Top Recruits touting the electric scorer's recent versatile performances and listing the colleges he visited this year (Duke, Kentucky, Florida, Michigan, Baylor, St. John's), Kelly Flagg chimed in by tagging VJ Edgecombe and Cooper Flagg.
Plus, she added a GIF of recent Duke basketball sensation and reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero giving his signature wink:
Does Kelly Flagg know what's going on behind the scenes? Well, one can safely assume she would know more than most.
And her campaign for Duke in the race shouldn't hurt.
Meanwhile, Edgecombe recently noted that he has no more planned visits and will likely announce his decision in the next few months.
Flagg signed his national letter of intent in November, along with the other future Blue Devils: Paul VI Catholic (Va.) five-star center Patrick Ngongba II, Paul VI Catholic four-star forward Darren Harris, North Meck (N.C.) five-star forward Isaiah Evans, and Wisconsin Lutheran four-star forward Kon Knueppel.
Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball recruiting news.