In the McDonald’s game, the future Blue Devils did not have the most influence.
Tuesday night at the McDonald’s All-American Game, one of the largest stages in high school basketball, two future Duke basketball players stole the show.
Among the few outstanding talents that arrived in Houston this weekend, Cooper Flagg, the top player in the Class of 2024, stole the show, but when the ball was tipped, Flagg remained largely silent.
Isaiah Evans, the only other future Blue Devil participating in the event, started with him in the starting lineup. Despite this, he only finished with eight points, six rebounds, and three assists on 3-of-9 shooting and one of four 3-pointers made.
A breakaway dunk by Flagg that showcased his athleticism and was set up by an outlet feed from Evans was one of the game’s most memorable moments.
His defensive play was particularly impressive, as he demonstrated his adaptability and capacity to guard the rim with a block that fell into the first row after he recovered from the weak side.
On Thursday at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPNU, Cooper Flagg, a student at Montverde Academy (Fla.), will take a plane to Indianapolis to compete in the Chipotle Nationals with the goal of capturing a National Championship.
In two weeks, on Saturday, April 13, in Portland, Isaiah Evans will be back on the floor to play in the Nike Hoop Summit.
The Team USA squad also included Flagg and Patrick Ngongba II, though it seems unlikely that Ngongba II will play because of an injury. Khaman Maluach, the most recent Duke commit, will compete for Team World as well.
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