Cooper Flagg, born in Newport (Maine) on December 21, 2006, has quickly climbed the ladder. It started with him at Nokomis Regional High School, where he made an instant impact. Flagg averaged 20.5 points, 10 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 3.7 steals and 3.7 blocks per game as a freshman. As a freshman, he became the first Maine Gatorade Player of the Year for his stellar performance. Scoring 22 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in the final game, he guided Nokomis to a Class A state title.
High School Achievements
Cooper Flagg has accolades upon accolades in his high school career. Then, he moved to the Florida school known for churning out NBA-ready prospects: Montverde Academy. Flagg went on to thrive in Montverde, playing a big part in the team’s success. He took home USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year honors in 2024 for his play. He was also named Naismith Prep and National Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
College Commitment: Duke University
In October 2023, Flagg selected the Blue Devils out of top programs like UConn and Kansas. Cooper Flagg pointed to the supportive culture at Duke, and its closeness with the coaching staff as significant decision points. That commitment helped solidify Duke’s recruiting class and made them a powerhouse this coming season.
Freshman Season at Duke
It’s been a notable freshman year for Flagg at Duke. Cooper Flagg recorded 18 points and a thunderous dunk his first time out, helping the Blue Devils begin winning with an easy 96-62 triumph over Maine. Flagg showed flashes of his immense potential, doing everything for the Wildcats on both sides of the ball in a close loss to Kentucky in the Champions Classic. He was able to contribute across the board in a follow-up game against Wofford, where he totalled nine rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks.
Professional Prospects
Cooper Flagg’s showings have solidified him as a top 2025 NBA Draft prospect. NBA scouts have taken notice of Nnaji’s PPOD play, dribble-drawing passing assists to spring opponents free under the basket, defence anchoring and mismatching exploits. Meanwhile, his training camp with Team USA only highlighted his readiness for the pro level.
Net worth and endorsements
Flagg’s marketability has earned him the coined deals. More recently he landed a major deal with New Balance, one of his biggest endorsement commitments yet. On top of that, Cooper Flagg landed an unprecedented NIL deal with Gatorade making him the first NCAA men’s basketball player to officially partner with the sports drink. His various endorsements helped him accumulate an impressive net worth with an NIL valuation of about $2.6 million, making him one of the highest college athletes in America.
Life Interests & Friendship
Flagg’s personal life is rarely seen in public, while his professional life is centre stage. Flagg is a twin, and his brother Ace Flagg is also a basketball player. The two are very close, training together and helping each other with their careers. Cooper Flagg is private about his personal life, and little is known about any romantic relationships.
Recent Headlines & Happenings
Cooper Flagg has remained in the conversation lately with his recent performances. His performance against NBA players on the Team USA training sessions in Las Vegas ahead of the Olympics had a profound impact on players and coaches. There have also been off-the-court controversies, such as his deals with New Balance and Gatorade.
