Flagg becomes Wooden Award favorite after historic performance

Cooper Flagg entered the season as the most hyped college basketball prospect in over a decade, but he's exceeded expectations through 16 games of his freshman campaign.

Flagg wasn't the favorite to win the John Wooden Award, given to college basketball's most outstanding player, heading into last weekend. That nod went to Auburn's Johni Broome, who was a -285 favorite Saturday morning while Flagg trailed at +250.

By the time the sun set Saturday evening, Flagg was a -260 favorite and Broome followed at +375. So, what happened in a few hours that dramatically shortened Flagg's odds?

The Duke sensation exploded for a career-high 42 points against Notre Dame on Saturday afternoon, the most points by a freshman in ACC history and the most by a Duke player since 1988. He did it on an efficient 78% shooting from the field and 66% from three while adding seven assists and six boards. That came days after Flagg went viral for a vicious fast-break dunk against Pittsburgh.

Flagg has since become a -350 favorite as bettors rushed to place their tickets on the unquestionable No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA draft. Broome's uncertain status has also contributed, as the Auburn star injured his ankle over the weekend and is out indefinitely. Marquette's Kam Jones has the third-best odds at +600.

A month ago, Flagg wasn't listed on the Wooden Award oddsboard on American sportsbooks, which prohibit wagering on athletes under 18. Bettors rushed to place their tickets once Flagg turned 18 on Dec. 21. Since he became a legal adult, 33% of Wooden Award bets and 50% of total money on the market has been on Flagg.

Since last Tuesday, he's garnered nearly 50% of all bets and 62% of the money wagered, as casual basketball fans were unable to avoid the hype machine after Flagg's monstrous, highlight-reel week.

Forgetting his place as the best freshman in the country, Flagg has emerged as the best player in the country. He's on his way to becoming the fourth freshman in NCAA history to win the award, joining the elite company of Kevin Durant (2007), Anthony Davis (2012), and Zion Williamson (2019).

KenPom ranks Flagg as the sport's best player this season, leading Duke to a 14-2 record. He's Duke's centerpiece and engine, but the Blue Devils have surrounded him with the perfect complementary pieces, including Kon Knueppel and Tyrese Proctor. Duke is the favorite to win the national title (+500).

Flagg is averaging 19.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.3 blocks. The Maine native's elite guard skills at 6-foot-9 make him a unique prospect. He can create for himself on the bounce, has extended shooting range, and can score at all three levels. Defensively, his versatility allows him to switch out on the perimeter, protect the rim effectively while deterring shots and potential drivers, and efficiently rotate over as a help defender. He possesses a rare combo of height, length, burst, and speed. Perhaps most impressively, Flagg's motor is exceptional, another rare occurrence for a player of his caliber.

He doesn't have Victor Wembanyama's size or length, but he certainly has the talent and is the exact type of player NBA teams pray land in their lap. Flagg immediately changes the trajectory of a franchise. As the NBA season enters the latter half, more teams will forgo winning to position themselves for the best chance to win the draft lottery. A few teams already began that journey with Flagg in mind when the season tipped off in October.

For now, Flagg and Duke hope to accumulate hardware before he makes the NBA leap. If the odds are any indication, there's a good chance that happens.

Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more betting coverage.