From the bottom of her heart, Kelly Flagg poured out a message that resonated far beyond the pages of a blog post or the screen of a social media update. It was a mother’s heartfelt tribute, a thank-you, and a farewell all wrapped into one powerful and emotional ode to Duke basketball — the program that helped shape her son, Cooper Flagg, into the man and athlete he has become. Just days after the Dallas Mavericks selected Cooper in the NBA Draft, Kelly took the time to express something deeper than pride — a reverence for the journey that began long before the flashing lights and booming applause of draft night.
In her opening words, “From the bottom of my heart,” Kelly set the tone for what was more than just a parent’s reflection. It was a message anchored in gratitude and transformation. Cooper Flagg, now one of the NBA’s most promising rookies, had once been a kid from Newport, Maine, with dreams as big as Cameron Indoor Stadium itself. But dreams require nurturing, and in Duke, Kelly found a place that not only honed her son’s skills but helped mold his spirit. Her tribute was not about the championships or the draft stock — it was about character, community, and the undeniable culture that only a place like Duke could offer.
Kelly’s words captured what every parent hopes for when sending their child off to chase greatness: that the people around them will pour into them, protect them, challenge them, and believe in them. And Duke did just that. She reflected on the countless hours spent watching her son mature under the guidance of Coach Jon Scheyer and the entire Blue Devil staff, who took Cooper not just as a top recruit, but as a young man with potential far beyond basketball. The coaching staff, trainers, academic advisors, and even the fans — Kelly made sure to thank them all. Each played a role in Cooper’s development, on and off the court.
More than anything, Kelly’s tribute spoke to the unique bond between the Flagg family and the Duke community. It wasn’t just about Cooper fitting into a system. It was about the system embracing who he was and helping him blossom. She reminisced about the first time they visited Durham and how, almost instantly, it felt like home. There was something intangible in the air — the pride, the history, the sense of purpose. It wrapped around them like a warm blanket, and from that moment, Kelly knew Duke was more than just a stop on the road to the NBA; it was a foundational chapter in her son’s life.
She went on to describe the memories etched into her heart: Cooper’s first game in a Duke jersey, the roar of Cameron Crazies echoing through her chest, the late-night phone calls from her son filled with excitement after a big win or frustration after a hard loss. Through it all, she saw him grow. Not just as a player who would go on to become a lottery pick, but as a teammate, a student, and a leader. Kelly spoke of the quiet moments — the ones the cameras didn’t capture — when Cooper studied film, stayed after practice, or walked around campus interacting with fellow students and professors. Those were the moments that told her Duke wasn’t just preparing him for basketball. It was preparing him for life.
Kelly also acknowledged the sacrifices required along the way. For Cooper to make the leap from Maine to North Carolina and thrive, it required leaving behind familiarity and leaning into discomfort. It meant long stretches away from family, intense media scrutiny, and the burden of expectations. But through all the pressure, Kelly said Duke provided the support system he needed to stay grounded. She expressed particular appreciation for the mentorship he received — not only from the coaches but from the upperclassmen and Duke alumni who welcomed Cooper into the brotherhood. It wasn’t lip service; it was real.
Her ode also carried a subtle but powerful message about the power of collegiate athletics to serve as a transformative experience — not just a stepping stone. In an era when some top prospects bypass college for professional paths or overseas leagues, Kelly’s words were a reminder that the college experience still holds profound value. For Cooper, Duke wasn’t just a means to an end. It was an end in itself — a period of personal evolution that couldn’t have been replicated elsewhere.
The letter was as much about a mother’s pride in her son as it was about her appreciation for the program that nurtured him. Kelly wrote about watching Cooper mature from a teenager with raw ability into a polished player ready to face the NBA, and how Duke gave him the tools to do so with humility and confidence. She remembered the long phone conversations they had during the recruiting process and how, after each visit, Cooper kept returning to the same feeling: “Duke feels right.” That instinct proved true. And now, as she watched her son walk across the draft stage to shake hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver, Kelly knew that part of the reason he was ready for that moment was because of what Duke had instilled in him.
She didn’t shy away from emotion, either. Kelly recalled shedding tears of both joy and anxiety as she dropped Cooper off on campus for the first time. She remembered the empty feeling driving back home to Maine, hoping her son would find what he needed in Durham. Looking back now, she realizes how much more he found than she ever could have imagined. He didn’t just find opportunity — he found belonging.
The emotional depth of her tribute wasn’t just about one young man’s path to the pros. It was about the connective tissue that binds families to institutions, and the beauty of watching dreams unfold in real time. She made sure to thank the fan base — the Crazies who turned out for every game, who chanted his name, who wore his jersey, who supported him even on nights when he struggled. She said their energy lifted Cooper more times than they knew and reminded him that he wasn’t alone. For a young man far from home, that kind of communal support was everything.
And then there was the coaching staff. Kelly reserved a special portion of her message for Coach Scheyer, who she said treated Cooper like family from the moment they met. She praised his ability to push Cooper to be great without ever diminishing who he was as a person. She thanked him for being honest, consistent, and compassionate — for seeing beyond the hype and investing in the heart. Scheyer, in Kelly’s words, didn’t just develop a player; he helped raise a man.
As the letter came to a close, Kelly acknowledged that while their time at Duke was now over, the bond would never break. She said that Duke would always be family, and that Cooper would carry the lessons, values, and memories from his time there into every locker room and arena he stepped into moving forward. She ended by saying, “From the bottom of my heart, thank you, Duke. You’ll always be part of our story.”
