Pair of Duke commits to face off in City of Palms semifinals

By ADAM ZAGORIA

A pair of Duke commits will face off in the City of Palms semifinals on Friday night.

Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2024, and his top-ranked Montverde Academy (FL) team will face future Blue Devil teammate Darren Harris and Paul VI (VA) at 7 p.m. in Fort Myers, Fla. Link Academy (MO) will face Long Island Lutheran (NY) in the other semifinal. Both games will air on ESPNU.

The championship game is set for 9 p.m. on Saturday on ESPNU.

“I always love when my guys get a chance to play their future teammates,” PVI coach Glenn Farello told ZAGSBLOG. “A little friendly rivalry and bragging rights for the kids.”

Duke coach Jon Scheyer and assist Jai Lucas were in attendance Thursday to watch both future recruits. (PVI also has Duke-bound big man Pat Ngongba, but he is sidelined indefinitely after foot surgery.)

Duke head coach Jon Scheyer front and center for @darrenwh11 and Michigan head coach Juwan Howard front and center center for @Khani_Rooths at @CityOfPalmsBKB tonight! pic.twitter.com/IfCTmNczLb

— League Ready (@LeagueRDY) December 22, 2023

In the quarters in front of his future coach, the 6-foot-9 Flagg went for 20 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists in a 95-55 rout of Archbishop Stepinac (NY). Future Kentucky point guard Boogie Fland had 23 in the loss.

Four other Montverde players also reached double-figures with uncommitted big man Derik Queen notching 20, Indiana commit Liam McNeeley posting 16, Georgia pledge Asa Newell scoring 15 and Baylor commit Robert Wright III tallying 12.

“I think this Montverde team is as good as I’ve ever seen and that is saying something based on his all time great teams,” Farello said, referring to Montverde coach Kevin Boyle.

“Montverde checks off every box. They have no holes. They do not make mistakes and they are relentless.”

Cooper Flagg leads Montverde to a 95-55 win over Archbishop Stepinac in Quarterfinal #2 at City of Palms 🌴🤩 20 and 7 for the Duke commit @Cooper_Flagg pic.twitter.com/IphXXAgJI4

— League Ready (@LeagueRDY) December 22, 2023

For PVI, Harris went for 13 points but was just 1-of-6 from deep in a narrow 71-70 quarterfinal victory over IMG Academy (FL). Rhode Island commit Ben Hammond led the team with 19 and UConn pledge Isaiah Abraham had 8 with 4 rebounds.

Five-star guard Darius Acuff Jr. had 20 points and 6 assists in the loss and Syracuse commit Donnie Freeman went for 14 and 7 boards. Future Notre Dame guard Cole Certa scored 14.

Farello and PVI beat Montverde in 2013 at the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions when Boyle’s team was ranked No. 1 and Farello joked he will try to “come up with a little magic” like that year.

Photo: via @leagueRDY

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