Cooper Flagg is a talented basketball player who currently plays for the Duke Blue Devils in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in the United States.
He started his high school career at Nokomis Regional High School in Newport, Maine, but later moved to Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida. As a senior, Flagg received numerous national awards for his skills and was considered the top recruit in the 2024 class.
Cooper Flagg’s Early Years
Cooper Flagg was born and raised in Newport, Maine, and went to Nokomis Regional High School. He made history by being the first freshman to receive the title of Maine Gatorade Player of the Year.
This was due to his impressive performance of averaging 20.5 points, 10 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 3.7 steals, and 3.7 blocks per game.
In addition, Flagg played a key role in Nokomis winning the Class A state championship. He scored 22 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in the state final against Falmouth High School, leading his team to a 43-27 victory.
Before starting his studies at Monteverde, he played in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) as a member of the Florida Eagles. The Florida Eagles are an Amateur Athletic Union team that is connected to Montverde.
In the 2023 Hoophall Classic, Flagg was named MVP for his impressive performance of 21 points, five steals, five rebounds, and three assists.
He led Montverde to a big 85-63 win over La Lumiere Academy. Additionally, he was selected as one of the semifinalists for the prestigious Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award.
During his initial year at Montverde, Flagg maintained an average of 9.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and three assists per game.
Following the end of his season, he joined Maine United in the EYBL and recorded impressive numbers at the Peach Jam tournament with 25.4 points, 13 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 6.9 blocks in seven games. Flagg later decided to move up a class and reclassify to the 2024 recruiting class after his sophomore year.
Cooper Flagg was selected for the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Boys Game. On March 27, 2024, he was named Gatorade National Player of the Year and Mr. Basketball USA.
He also won the Naismith Prep Player of the Year award. Flagg averaged 16.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.7 blocks per game, leading the Eagles to a 34-0 record and their eighth National title.
College Career
In June 2024, Cooper Flagg joined Duke for summer training. He started his college career on November 4, scoring 18 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals in a 96-62 win over Maine. On January 4, 2025, he had 24 points and 11 rebounds in an 89-62 victory against SMU.
On Jan 12, 2025, Flagg scored 42 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and dished out 7 assists in Duke’s win over Notre Dame. He shot 11-14 from the field, 4-6 from three, and 16-17 from the free-throw line, setting new freshman scoring records for Duke and the ACC.
On Jan 18, 2025, Flagg scored 28 points and 5 rebounds in an 88-63 win vs Boston College. On February 17, 2025, he became the first ACC player in 25 years to reach 500 points, 100 assists, and 30 blocks in the regular season.
Cooper Flagg led Duke to the ACC title, finishing 19-1 in conference. He was named ACC Player and Rookie of the Year, joining Zion Williamson, Marvin Bagley III, and Jahlil Okafor.
National Team
In the 2022 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup, Cooper Flagg represented the United States and was recognized for his outstanding performance.
His stellar stats of 9.3 points, 10 rebounds, 2.9 blocks, and 2.4 steals per game contributed to the team’s gold medal win and earned him a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
In the final game against Spain, Cooper Flagg’s impressive performance of 10 points, 17 rebounds, eight steals, and four blocked shots led his team to a 79-67 victory.
This great performance won him the 2022 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year award in the Under-17 World Cup. He is the youngest person to win this award.
Flagg was chosen to join the USA Select Team to train with the United States men’s national team before the 2024 Summer Olympics.
