Former high school teammates Cooper Flagg and Derik Queen swapped jerseys with each other following their first regular-season meeting in the NBA on Wednesday.
Flagg and Queen played at the Montverde Academy in Central Florida, leading the Eagles to an undefeated 33-0 national championship in 2024. They were among four alumni who were drafted in the first round this year, along with Asa Newell and Liam McNeeley.
Queen produced 11 points and seven rebounds to help the New Orleans Pelicans to a 101-99 victory over Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks. Flagg finished with 20 points and nine rebounds, nearly sinking the game-tying shot with 3.9 seconds remaining in regulation.
Entering the season, Flagg said that he is most excited to face his former teammates, either from the Montverde Academy or Duke. Queen was the first former teammate that Flagg has faced in the regular season, with Khaman Maluach and the Phoenix Suns looming next on Nov. 12.
Flagg is averaging 14.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists on 39.4% shooting from the field in eight games. The No. 1 pick is third among all rookies in scoring and is one of three first-year players with multiple 20-point outings (2).
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Queen has logged eight appearances with the Pelicans, averaging 8.4 points and 5.5 rebounds on 46.9% shooting from the field. The 13th pick has scored in double figures four times, including a 15-point, six-rebound performance on Oct. 24 in an overtime loss to the San Antonio Spurs.