Most players in the NBA often need to make a big statement in college first before they are given any sort of proper attention. This is where most generational talents get to prove their prowess by being one-and-done stars but some don’t need that March Madness experience for scouts to take them seriously. Cooper Flagg is the biggest example of this. He has yet to play for Jon Scheyer and the Duke Blue Devils but the eye test says that he is capable of making a big impact already in the association. How did he get here?

From Maine to Montverde

Cooper was born to be a hooper. His parents, Kelly and Ralph, both played college basketball in the NJCAA. Ralph played for Eastern Maine Community College and Kelly was the captain at Maine in her last playing year. Hunter, his older brother also played for Nokomis Regional High School. It was clear that when he, and his twin, Ace, were given life on December 21, 2006, they were going to be in a basketball environment.

Initially, he played for Nokomis Regional High School but he was off to find greener pastures after his freshman year. After all, he was the Maine Gatorade Player of the Year and got Nokomis a Class A State Championship. His numbers were also nuts. He got 20.5 points, 10 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 3.7 blocks, and 3.7 steals on a nightly basis.

It was an easy choice for him to head south of the country to join Montverde Academy but he is still very much in tune with the culture of Maine. He even returned to play for Maine United in the Nike EYBL after his second year of high school.

A star is born

Cooper’s first year with Montverde was not easy but his impact was clearly felt despite the boatload of talent in the squad. He averaged a so-so 9.8 points, 3 assists, and 5.2 rebounds but his ascent would only start from there. He would win USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year over the next two years and score a FIBA U-17 World Cup gold medal.

His final season with Montverde was spectacular. The Eagles ended the year with an undefeated record throughout 34 games and a national championship. Cooper’s numbers were 16.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.7 blocks. This got him honors like being a McDonald’s All-American, and Gatorade Men’s Athlete of the Year in 2024. It also brought about numerous Division I offers from programs like Duke, Bryant, and UConn among others. There was a tough decision to be made about his collegiate career and it wasn’t just about the school he was going to either — it was also about the year.

Re-classification and choosing Jon Scheyer

He was initially slated to be part of the 2025 recruiting class but that would have put him up against AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer. As a result, this would have made him the third-ranked player in the class. Cooper made a strategic decision to reclassify and join the 2024 recruiting class instead. This boosted his chances of being the most coveted player in the nation as he rose to become the top player in ESPN, Rivals, and 247Sports. The Blue Devils also doubled their efforts in building a squad that’s competitive enough to compete for a national title in what could be a one-and-done collegiate run for Flagg.

At the end of it all, the 6-foot-8 small forward was convinced by Duke and signed his national letter of intent on November 28, 2023. He has yet to start his true freshman campaign but his impact was felt by the nation throughout his last summer in high school.

Star-spangled wunderkind

There is no rest for the wicked. Cooper was selected to the Team USA Select team in order to practice against the Avengers led by LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry among other big names for the Olympics. The Slim Reaper even had high praise for the 17-year-old.

“He looks like a hell of a player, somebody who’s only going to get better with more experience. He’s 17 years old coming in here playing like a vet almost. No emotion. Just going out there and doing his job. That’s a good sign,” Durant said.

A lot of analysts already have Flagg listed as one of the top selections for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics squad because of this.

Earnings so far

Cooper has attracted a lot of corporate suitors for his endorsement. The most notable of which has to be with New Era and New Balance. This makes his net worth clock in at around $1.4 million and seventh in the NIL 100 rankings before he even played a game for Coach Jon Scheyer in the regular season.