Jay Bilas Names Greatest Freshman in Duke Basketball History Without Hesitation
In a program stacked with legends and NBA stars, calling someone the greatest freshman ever at Duke is no small statement—but for ESPN analyst and former Blue Devil Jay Bilas, there’s no hesitation. As the basketball world awaits Cooper Flagg’s expected No. 1 selection in the 2025 NBA Draft, Bilas has already etched the 18-year-old phenom into Blue Devil lore. Forget Zion. Forget Kyrie. Forget Grant Hill. Bilas says what Flagg just did at Duke—statistically, competitively, and historically—is unmatched. And he’s not alone.
With the NBA Finals now in the rearview, attention has shifted to the 2025 NBA Draft, with the first round set to unfold Wednesday and the second on Thursday.
The clear consensus at this point is that the Dallas Mavericks, who hold the No. 1 overall pick, are expected to select Duke Blue Devils star Cooper Flagg—who has been projected as the top pick for over a year.
Amid all his success, a conversation has sparked about where Flagg ranks among the greatest freshmen in Duke basketball history—a heated debate considering the caliber of players who have come through the program.
Whether you’re looking at Kyrie Irving, Zion Williamson, Jabari Parker, Marvin Bagley III, Jahlil Okafor, RJ Barrett—or even the early production of Duke legends like Grant Hill, JJ Redick, and Christian Laettner—there’s no shortage of elite company.
Still, ESPN personality and former Duke standout Jay Bilas is firm in his stance: Flagg is the best freshman the program has ever seen.
“I happen to think he’s the best freshman player that Duke’s ever had,” Bilas said. “That may not mean he’s the most talented. Grant Hill and Kyrie Irving were incredibly talented players when they came out of Duke… but no other freshman produced as an 18-year-old the way Cooper Flagg did across the board. Not only in the success of the team, but in individual success. As an 18-year-old to be as complete of a player as he is right now and as competitive as he is—really hard to fathom.”
As a freshman, Cooper Flagg helped lead Duke to 35 wins, an ACC regular season title, a conference tournament championship, and a Final Four appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game—leading the team in every major statistical category. His dominant season earned him the Wooden Award, along with several other national honors.
Now, in just over 24 hours, the Newport, Maine native is set to become the first player to hear his name called at the Barclays Center, as his lifelong dream of reaching the NBA comes to fruition.
