Maine native Cooper Flagg is off to an impressive start to his college basketball career at Duke University. The 17-year-old freshman forward from Newport is averaging 15.5 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists through two games, easy wins against the University of Maine and Army.
In both games, Flagg experienced cramping in his left leg that reduced his playing time and that has Duke head coach Jon Scheyer concerned heading into Tuesday night’s important game against Kentucky (9 p.m., ESPN).
Flagg fell to the floor holding his left calf late in the second half of the 96-62 win over UMaine on Nov. 4. It turned out to be severe cramps and he left the game.
In Friday night’s 100-58 win over Army, Flagg experienced cramping in his left upper leg, the quadriceps area, according to the Associated Press. He spent most of the second half drinking fluids and using a massaging device before going to the locker room for treatment with 5:52 left in the game. He returned at the 3:44 mark but did not see any more action.
The Sporting News reported that Scheyer is focused on helping Flagg resolve the problem.
“We’ve got to help him,” Scheyer said in an interview with ESPN after the Army game. “I’m not happy about it, for him. We’ve got to help him. And we will. Right after [Friday’s game], I can promise you I’m going to be meeting [with the team’s training staff]. I don’t care if it’s all night. We can’t have that happen. Bottom line.”
In the same Sporting News report, Flagg said he and the Duke training staff are addressing the problem.
“We got a plan in place,” Flagg said in a video posted by Sportskeeda after the Army game. “We’re going to figure it out, get to the bottom of it, and find out what I need to do to be ready for the next game.”
