Welcome to Glass Slipper! The Open Championship begins on Thursday, and I think Rory McIlroy is about to get his redemption; please enjoy the show.

- Jacob Rhee

There’s no doubt that the 2024 NBA Draft featured a historically weak class of prospects. That will not be the case next year. A future perennial All-Star is approaching.

The two best college basketball players of my lifetime are Anthony Davis and Zion Williamson. AD punted every offensive game plan he encountered into the sun with his instincts and intelligence. Zion could mash his way into the paint against anyone, and apparently decided that he didn’t feel like missing any shots while in school. Davis and Kentucky hung a national title banner, and Williamson’s Duke squad would have followed suit if not for a rather bizarre coaching job from Mike Krzyzewski.

Cooper Flagg has a legitimate chance to join those two guys in that elite tier. He was supposed to graduate high school next summer, but instead earned his diploma this year so he could get to college faster; if they had allowed Flagg to reclassify a second time, he absolutely would have been the Atlanta Hawks’ pick at No. 1 a few weeks ago. The kid is mature, and his game is extremely polished and advanced.

The 17-year-old mentions Jayson Tatum as one of his basketball idols, and the similarities are evident. But Flagg already possesses the playmaking and elite defending that I didn’t see Tatum truly develop until the NBA bubble in 2020. The Celtics forward was a ball hog at Duke; Flagg will not be that way.

Joining a superteam in high school can be dangerous for top recruits. Some kids try to prove that they’re the guy, and wind up damaging the chemistry. Others get intimidated on a roster full of stars, and fade into the background. My favorite thing about Flagg is how he split the difference at Montverde; he maintained his fire and intensity while keeping winning the priority. As a result, the Eagles finished with a perfect 33-0 record and rolled to a national championship this past season.

For those that somehow remain uninterested in college basketball, now is a perfect time to join the fun. Duke and North Carolina will clash in Chapel Hill at some point in early 2025. With two likely top-10 teams in the building, it’s going to be one of the best sports atmospheres we’ve witnessed in the last decade. Flagg will receive deafening boos all night, and everybody should be tuned in to see how he responds.

Pressroom

Spin It

“Pass Me By” by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings. One of the greatest songs ever created. Enjoy.