Duke’s Flagg Declares He’s Pain-Free for NCAA Tournament

RALEIGH, N.C. — Duke freshman Jeremy Flagg declared himself “pain-free” and fully healthy ahead of the Blue Devils’ NCAA tournament opener following a recent ankle injury that sidelined him during the ACC tournament. Flagg, who sustained the injury in the first half of Duke’s game against Virginia on March 13, confirmed on Thursday that he practiced fully without any limitations.

Coach Jon Scheyer noted that Flagg wanted to participate in the ACC championship but emphasized a cautious approach to ensure a full recovery. “He’s been itching to get out there… That’s just not the way he’s wired, his family, everybody with them,” Scheyer said. Flagg, averaging 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists this season, is regarded as a top prospect for the 2025 NBA draft, consistently holding the top spot in ESPN’s rankings.

Despite missing the ACC tournament, Duke managed to secure the conference title, defeating North Carolina by 11 points. Duke’s defense played a crucial role in their success, as highlighted by center Jaden Maluach. “It didn’t matter that the lineup changed. We were just us and still played our normal basketball,” Maluach said.

Flagg’s rehabilitation involved a structured approach with Duke’s training staff, utilizing individualized workouts to ensure he regained full mobility. “From the start of the week, it was kind of a buildup of jumping back into practice,” Flagg explained. “Then I was back at full practice [Wednesday].”

As for his performance leading into the NCAA tournament, Flagg contributed significantly during the regular season, averaging 21.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists in ACC play. Notably, he became only the fourth freshman in the last 25 seasons to register more than 20 points per game with a 50% shooting rate from the field and 40% from beyond the arc.

Duke is set to face their first NCAA tournament opponent this Sunday at 2:40 p.m. ET on CBS, with Flagg expected to make a significant impact on the game. “This is about him being able to move properly,” Scheyer stated when discussing Flagg’s readiness for competition. “He wasn’t going to play if he was compensating.”

Meanwhile, Flagg’s teammate, junior forward Kyle Brown, remains doubtful for the opening weekend due to a separated shoulder. Scheyer indicated that while Brown is eager to return, it’s uncertain if he will play during early rounds of the tournament.