Former Duke Blue Devils basketball star Cooper Flagg is coming off an impressive year and has been recognized for his stellar play with the Blue Devils last season, being named the Best College Athlete in Men’s Sports at the 2025 ESPY awards Wednesday night. Flagg earned the honor over such notable college athletes as Oklahoma State wrestler Wyatt Hendrickson; former Cornell lacrosse star CJ Kirst, who recently became the No. 1 overall pick in the Premier Lacrosse League; and former Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter.
Former Duke Blue Devils basketball star Cooper Flagg is coming off an impressive year and has been recognized for his stellar play with the Blue Devils last season, being named the Best College Athlete in Men’s Sports at the 2025 ESPY awards Wednesday night. Flagg earned the honor over such notable college athletes as Oklahoma State wrestler Wyatt Hendrickson; former Cornell lacrosse star CJ Kirst, who recently became the No. 1 overall pick in the Premier Lacrosse League; and former Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter.
Flagg arrived in Durham as one of the most heralded college basketball prospects in generations and the highest-ranked recruit in the school’s impressive history, according to 247 Sports. While he would play but a single season for the Blue Devils, he left an impressive mark on both a local and national scale.
Averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while dominating defensively, Flagg proved himself as an elite prospect while answering any remaining questions about both his shot efficiency and willingness to operate as an offensive alpha. He would go on to lead the Blue Devils to the NCAA Tournament, including a Final Four appearance against the Houston Cougars.
Flagg would parlay that success into becoming the sixth Duke player ever selected first overall in the NBA Draft, joining a star-studded group that includes Art Heyman, Elton Brand, Kyrie Irving, Zion Williams, and Paolo Banchero.
While Flagg’s college career is now over, his impressive season remains etched in history, even more so after earning this award, and is considered among the greatest freshman seasons in college basketball history.
