Duke’s Cooper Flagg becomes 4. A newcomer to win the Wooden Award

Duke‘with Cooper Flagg On Saturday he became the only fourth newcomer won by The Wooden Award as the most important male university basketball player.

Flagg lined Auburn‘with John Broomewhile Florida‘with Walter Clayton jr. Alabama‘with Mark Sears and Purdue‘with Braden Smith were the other finalists.

Flagg was considered a favorite for the prize during the second half of the season, when the most dominant player in Sport in Duke leadership appeared to the regular and conference tournament championship ACC and the first four performances by Mike Krzyzewski. He won both the ACC player of the year and Rookie of the Year, and is a clear leader to be selected No. 1 in the NBA design in June.

It average 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 helps to aim in Saturday’s national semi -final clearing against Houston.

Flagg’s statement came up against Notre Dame in January when he set the ACC Freshman record for points in the game after he went for 42 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists in winning the Irish combat. This trip has been emphasized by one of the best statistical months in recent years because Flagg has dialed 25.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.9 assistance in January, while shooting 57.9% of the field and 42.9% of the 3-point range.

@Dukembb Freshman Cooper Flagg was named the winner of John R. Wooden Award® 2025, introduced @Main

The live “John R. Wooden Awards show presented by the main” will stream at ESPN+ on Friday, April 11 at 8 pm EDT / 17:00 PDT.@Cooper_flagg pic.twitter.com/xjrfy0eegz

– John R. Wooden Award (@woodenaward) April 5, 2025

After suffering ankle injury in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament, Flagg missed the semifinals and championships, but regained its highest form at the NCAA tournament. He had an amazing performance against Arizona in Sweet 16, ended with 30 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists in winning over Wildcats.

Flagg is the first freshman to win the Wooden Award from Duke Zion Williamson in 2019. Other freshmen who win it are Kentucky Anthony Davis In 2012 and Texas’ Kevin durant In 2007.

The John R. Wooden Award Award has been distributed every year since 1977, starting with the star of UCLA Marques Johnson. Purde’s Zach Edey won it in each of the last two years and became only a second player of the men who won the prize twice, joining Ralph Sampson (1982, 1983).