Okay, this might tie into the effort thing, but the most promising part of Flagg’s performance was how immediately he flipped the switch. Flagg scored the first points of the game after a drive down the baseline. He scored six points in the first four minutes as Team Air lept out to a 15-3 lead. Team Flight did close the gap to win the game, but they clawed back while Flagg was mostly on the bench late in the first half.

The effort doesn’t come and go, and despite his prodigious talent, the future Blue Devil doesn’t wait for the game to come to him. Fans who have been frustrated by Duke letting lesser opponents hang around in the first half shouldn’t expect more of the same while Flagg leads the way.

If you ask for a one-word summary of Isaiah Evans’ offensive game, it’s fearless. The two-time North Carolina Mr. Basketball wasted no time when he decided to shoot. He didn’t hesitate in catch-and-shoot situations, and if a defender gave him an inch of space, the ball was already in the air before they could close in again.

Every move he showed off with the ball in his hands featured an easy transition into his shooting form, allowing him to maximize the space he created. Even when he missed a fadeaway or a jumper, his next run-through was just as fast and just as committed. He’s going to be a matchup nightmare at the collegiate level.

Darren Harris got a majority of his playing time in the early parts of the first half, but he made a strong impression while he was on the floor. Despite the exhibition nature of the Jordan Brand Classic, Harris truly played a selfless brand of basketball. He chased down a loose ball that looked like a sure bet to bound into the gallery, keeping one foot in bounds and tossing it over his shoulder to keep it in play. He passed up a decent 3-point look to set up teammate Liam McNeeley. He hustled down the court on two different breakaway attempts defensively, getting in the paint and getting his hands up to make sure Team Flight at least had to finish through contact if they wanted two points.

Harris already showed his flamethrowing potential as a shooter during the Chipotle Nationals, when he scored 36 points during a win over IMG Academy while he led Paul VI to the championship game. If he can pair that ceiling with the effort and discipline he showed in Brooklyn, he might be a jewel even among Duke’s star-studded class.

Not many top-20 recruits have the chance to come in under their fanbase’s radar, but Patrick Ngongba is doing just that. 247Sports’ No. 18 overall prospect in the Class of 2024 has seen the frontcourt hype go to Flagg and Khaman Maluach all spring, but the Paul VI forward might surprise some fans in Cameron next year.

The 6-foot-11 forward dominated a short run for Team Flight, scoring six points in less than three minutes early in the second half. He landed a contested fadeaway over Flagg for the first, drawing a foul, before slamming home a dunk for the second. In the middle of his miniature run, Ngongba got fed the ball inside with a one-on-one against Flagg. Instead of taking the bait, however, Ngongba whipped around and slung a one-handed pass to Evans in the corner for a triple.

If Ngongba can handle the glass and create perimeter opportunities for his teammates, he’ll find plenty of playing time as a freshman.

Depending on the lineup next season, Duke could have five players capable of taking the ball up on the court at the same time. Harris, Evans, and Kon Knueppel are all obviously capable of creating their own looks as wings, and Harris has the chops to run the floor based on a few of the passes he made on Sunday. Flagg is the consensus No. 1 prospect because of his rare combination of size and guard skills, and he can weave his way through traffic and create space with the best of them. Even Ngongba set up Evans for a corner 3-pointer.

Combine all that talent with returning guards Caleb Foster and Tyrese Proctor, who combined to average 5.8 assists per game, and opposing defenses will have a nightmarish game of Whack-a-Mole awaiting them in Durham.