One of the most eagerly awaited freshmen in men’s college basketball has finally made his debut.

The top player in the 2024 recruiting class, Cooper Flagg, played his first game for the No. 5 Duke Blue Devils on Monday against Maine during their season opener.

Flagg has been the subject of intense anticipation leading up to the start of his collegiate journey. He demonstrated his potential to become basketball’s next big thing by impressing at the Olympic training camp while competing against NBA players from Team USA, who went on to claim a gold medal this past summer in Paris.

As the frontrunner for next year’s NBA draft, Flagg is under immense scrutiny playing for Duke, a team renowned for its high expectations.

Cooper Flagg’s performance against Maine

Excitement filled Cameron Indoor Stadium as Duke faced Maine in their season opener, and Flagg provided the fans with plenty to cheer about—even amidst a minor scare. He finished the game with an impressive line of 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals over 30 minutes, helping Duke secure a 96-62 victory. He was the team’s leader in rebounds and steals, with teammate Kon Knueppel scoring a game-high 22 points.

Flagg showcased his passing skills right from the start, making two quick assists as Duke established a lead they maintained throughout the game. His initial points came from the free-throw line, which might have seemed uneventful, but he soon turned the tide. Just before halftime, Flagg delivered the first highlight of his college career with a spectacular dunk after driving into the paint.

Defensively, he was a force, consistently disrupting the Black Bears’ passing lanes. He even had a breakaway dunk following a steal in the second half.

There was a tense moment late in the second half when Flagg appeared to be in discomfort after going down on the court. It seemed he was signaling a cramp and, fortunately, got up and walked to the bench amid cheers from the audience. He stayed on the bench for the rest of the game, which was well out of reach.

Most of Flagg’s scoring came near the basket and at the free-throw line, where he was perfect, hitting all six attempts. However, he struggled from beyond the arc, finishing 0-for-4 from three-point range.

Duke is set to play again on Friday when they host Army, prior to a major showdown against Kentucky in Atlanta the following Tuesday.