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Duke basketball is poised to bounce back according to Cooper Flagg, the five-star forward who is playing in this week’s McDonald’s All-American Game.
Flagg is the No. 1 player in the nation according to ESPN and multiple other outlets.
Duke had a down year by their usual lofty standards, finishing the regular season 24-8. In the final USA TODAY Coaches Poll before the start of the NCAA Tournament, Duke was ranked No. 14.
They were a fourth-seed in the NCAA Tournament and lost on Sunday in the Elite Eight to ACC rival North Carolina State.
Flagg was asked on Monday during a press conference for the McDonald’s All-American Game if he felt any pressure from fans following Duke’s loss in the NCAA Tournament.
“I think I just didn’t realize it…I don’t think I feel any sort of pressure,” Flagg said.
“Just because you know, we haven’t been there. So I think once you get there like you said get acclimated. I think we have the chance to do something really special.”
In the USA Today High School Sports top 10, Flagg is the second-best recruit in the country.
Joining Flagg during the press conference was future teammate Isaiah Evans. The future Duke guard is also a five-star and the No. 12 player in the nation according to 247Sports.
“As far as fan pressure, I don’t really feel pressure from this year’s team,” Evans said during the McDonald’s press conference.”
“I think that we’re going to create our own journey and once we get there and get acclimated with each other. And I think we don’t make a lot of fans proud.”