As the March Madness frenzy kicks off, all eyes are on Duke’s flamboyant freshman star, Cooper Flagg. After a nail-biting ankle sprain left him sidelined briefly, he’s bouncing back just in time for the dance.

Duke’s athletic department confirmed he’s good to go and will be ready to hit the court for the first-round game against Mount St. Mary’s this Friday. Can we get a collective sigh of relief? Flagg himself reported feeling fabulous, and I don’t know about you, but I trust a kid who knocks down five consecutive 3-pointers without breaking a sweat.

A unanimous Associated Press first-team All-American, 18-year-old Flagg shared his emotional rollercoaster after spraining his left ankle during the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament quarterfinals. “I hated every second of not being able to play,” he commented candidly. Who can blame him? A big moment like this should not be wasted in a medical gown.

The sprained ankle turned out to be less of a disaster than initially feared, with both X-rays and an MRI giving him the green light. Flagg mentioned he’s done his fair share of ankle rolling while growing up on the court, but this injury was a different beast, one he was clearly nervous about, unlike your average Tuesday night skirmish in a local park.

Coach Jon Scheyer was equally cautious yet optimistic, stating that Flagg wouldn’t be playing if he wasn’t up to par. “We built him up slowly and really progressed him the right way, but he’s ready to go,” he said. Let’s just hope there are no last-minute surprises because the only suspense we want to see involves buzzer-beaters, not injuries.

As Friday approaches, the energy is palpable. Duke fans are ready to rally, counting down the days until they can see their star in action. And let’s face it, we’re all eagerly awaiting the dramatic basketball moments that March Madness is known for. Keep an eye on this rising star as he prepares to take the court!

And hey, don’t forget, injuries may come and go, but the magic of March Madness is forever. Stay tuned for all the buzzer-beaters, Cinderella stories, and, let’s be real, a few tears as we cheer our teams through each nail-biting game. Bring it on, madness!