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The big news in the world of college basketball on Monday was the top high school player Cooper Flagg officially announcing his commitment to Duke University.
For those that are unfamiliar, Cooper Flagg is a 16-year-old, 6-foot-8 small forward currently attending Montverde Academy in Florida.
Flagg, who grew up in Newport, Maine, was the first freshman to be named the Maine Gatorade Player of the Year while attending Nokomis Regional High School in his hometown.
He transferred to Montverde Academy after his freshman year and went on to be named the USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year in 2022.
Flagg’s commitment announcement, which was pushed back due to the shootings in his home state of Maine, was revealed by SLAM magazine on Monday.
The headline SLAM magazine chose to use on the cover for Flagg’s Duke announcement was equal parts understandable as well as questionable.
BREAKING: Cooper Flagg officially commits to Duke… and is on the cover of SLAM 247. https://t.co/FsuijqYx29 pic.twitter.com/lUKLDvbQUB
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 30, 2023
Now, if you aren’t a diehard Duke fan (and God bless you if you’re not), then Cooper Flagg pledging “allegiance to the brotherhood” might be easily misconstrued. Especially considering Duke’s reputation for being a haven for white basketball stars.
That being said, Duke men’s basketball players, including players like Grant Hill and Kyrie Irving, have long called it “the brotherhood.”
The headline still raised quite a few eyebrows on social media.
What a headline 👀
— Patrick Hogan (@HoganPatrick0) October 30, 2023
“@SLAMonline ‘the brotherhood?’ Who’s the editor that thought this was a good idea?” someone else asked.
“You made it sound like he joined the Klan,” read another comment.
The brotherhood?!? pic.twitter.com/xU8REydqY0
— Drew (@drewdamn87) October 30, 2023
For everyone else who isn’t a Duke fan, but didn’t have an issue with the headline, they just remarked about how much Cooper Flagg is going to get hated on as a Dukie.
The amount of hate that Cooper Flagg will generate being an awesome white player for Duke will be immense. Even if it’s only for one season.
— Caleb (@VolsAndDraft) October 30, 2023
“A great white hope level prospect on Duke with the name Flagg,” another fan commented. “This boy is getting set up for Christian Laettner on steroids level hate lol.”
“Not even surprised Cooper Flagg goin to Duke,” someone else wrote. “He look like the perfect hatable white Duke player that can ball.”
Good luck, young man.