No. 1 overall player, has decommitted from Duke or is joining Michigan State under Tom Izzo. The supposed “surprising flip” appears to be unsubstantiated, and there’s no reliable coverage from established sports outlets, credible insiders, or verified social media supporting such a move. Here’s what is known:
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✅ What We Do Know About Cooper Flagg
Flagg is a freshman at Duke. As of the last confirmed reports, he remained a Duke player, having enrolled in June 2024 and starred throughout the 2024–25 season—earning accolades like ACC Player of the Year, All‑American, and national player of the year .
He participated in Duke’s Sweet 16 run, suffered a season‑ending ankle injury in mid-March, and then declared for the 2025 NBA Draft, where he was selected No. 1 overall by the Dallas Mavericks .
There is no mention in any official or reputable source of a decommitment, re‑commitment, or transfer away from Duke, nor of any communication with Michigan State.
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⚠️ What Doesn’t Add Up
The few mentions floating on social media (like brief Facebook posts or unsourced rumors) lack credibility, providing no citations or context—and no verifiable confirmation from Flagg himself, Duke, or MSU.
Major sports outlets—like ESPN, CBS Sports, The Athletic, Yahoo!, or local beat reporters—have not reported any transfer. They continue to list Flagg as a Duke freshman who is entering the NBA Draft .
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🏀 What This Means for Tom Izzo & Michigan State
Michigan State, under Hall‑of‑Fame coach Tom Izzo, had a successful 2024–25 season—winning the Big Ten regular‑season title, reaching the Elite Eight, and earning Izzo his fourth Big Ten Coach of the Year .
MSU is gearing up for the 2025–26 season, but there’s no indication they’ve added a blue-chip freshman like Flagg. Roster moves have involved transfers and internal developments, not high school phenoms reversing college decisions .
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🧭 Why the Rumor Probably Started
1. Name confusion: Cooper Flagg is one of the brightest young players in college basketball—even a whisper of a “surprise transfer” can generate clickbait.
2. The buzz around MSU—a storied program under Izzo—makes any high-profile recruit switch seem plausible and sensational.
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🔍 Quick Reality Check Summary
Claim Truth Status Notes
Flagg decommitted from Duke ❌ False He never decommitted.
Flagg joined Michigan State ❌ False No sources confirm.
Flagg entered NBA Draft ✅ True Drafted #1 to Dallas Mavericks.
MSU lost/gained Flagg ❌ False No roster change.
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📰 In Short:
This explosive headline—“Surprising Flip: Cooper Flagg Decommits from Duke, Joins MSU”—is not grounded in fact. Cooper Flagg completed his freshman year at Duke, declared for the 2025 NBA Draft, and is now a Maverick. Michigan State is continuing its path under Izzo, without this kind of recruit. If you’d like, I can help track legitimate transfer news or updates on top recruits and coaching moves!
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Let me know if you’re interested in confirmed recent moves—such as NCAA transfer portal updates, MSU’s incoming recruits, or how Izzo is shaping the team for next season. Happy to dig into real, verifiable news!