Injuries to freshman star Cooper Flagg, Maliq Brown hit at inopportune time for No. 1 Duke
Sports
And it’s too early to say whether Brown will make it back at all.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Cooper Flagg went airborne to snag a rebound in his first ACC Tournament game when Duke’s freshman star landed awkwardly and crashed to the court, holding his left ankle and writhing in pain.
It came moments after defensive whiz Maliq Brown had to be helped to the locker room, his left arm hanging limply by his side.
And just like that, top-ranked Duke now faces serious injury questions that threaten to linger well beyond however long the Blue Devils play this week in Charlotte.
Coach Jon Scheyer said it’s a “real long shot” that the 18-year-old Flagg — regarded as a favorite to be the No. 1 overall NBA draft pick whenever he jumps to the pros — will be able to play in the Atlantic Coast Conference semifinals due to that sprained ankle suffered during Thursday’s quarterfinal win against Georgia Tech.
And it’s too early to say whether Brown will make it back at all. He was taken to a nearby hospital after dislocating his left shoulder again less than a week after returning from the injury. He plays a vital defensive role with his ability to switch screens, guard multiple positions and use his length to tally offense-disrupting deflections.
