Cooper Flagg is used to the snow. He’s used to waking up early, shoveling his family’s long driveway in Newport, Maine, just to make it to practice. He’s used to the quiet, to the stillness, to the kind of isolation that comes from growing up in a town with fewer than 3,500 people. But nothing could’ve prepared him for the noise that followed once the rest of the country realized what the locals already knew—he wasn’t just special. He was transcendent.
Today, Flagg is a household name. Duke’s pride. A Wooden Award winner. A projected No. 1 overall pick. But before the banners and accolades, he was just a kid with a basketball in his hands and a dream far bigger than his surroundings.
In his own words, “I never thought the path from Maine would be easy. But I never let myself believe it was impossible.”
Flagg’s journey started humbly. Born into a basketball family—his mother, Kelly, was a college standout, and his twin brother, Ace, shared his early hoop dreams—Cooper was dribbling before he could read. At just five years old, he was already obsessed, practicing layups on a mini hoop nailed to the garage and waking his parents up with the sound of the ball thudding against the kitchen floor.
As a middle schooler, Flagg’s talent began turning heads statewide. But it wasn’t until his freshman year at Nokomis Regional High that the buzz became undeniable. Averaging 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists, he led the Warriors to their first-ever state championship and etched his name into Maine basketball lore. It wasn’t just what he did—it was how he did it. With poise, maturity, and a basketball IQ well beyond his years.
“It was like watching a high schooler play chess while everyone else was playing checkers,” said his high school coach, Earl Anderson. “He just saw the game differently.”
By the time Flagg transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida—a national powerhouse known for producing NBA talent—the rest of the country was paying attention. Scouts, analysts, fans—they all wanted to see how the small-town prodigy would fare under the brightest lights.
Flagg didn’t just fare—he flourished.
At Montverde, surrounded by elite competition, his game evolved. His defense, already stellar, became elite. His vision sharpened. His range extended. And more importantly, he learned to lead—not just with numbers, but with presence.
“There was an adjustment period,” Flagg admits. “It was hard being away from home, from Maine, from my people. But I knew if I wanted to grow, I had to be uncomfortable.”
That discomfort led to transformation. And that transformation caught the attention of every major college program in the nation.
But for Flagg, the choice was always Duke.
He grew up watching the Blue Devils. He idolized players like Jayson Tatum and Zion Williamson. And when he took his official visit to Durham, something just clicked.
“It felt like home,” he said. “Even though it was nothing like Maine, it felt like where I was supposed to be.”
Reclassifying into the Class of 2024 to accelerate his path, Flagg committed to Duke and immediately took on the expectations that came with it. The pressure was immense. The spotlight unrelenting. But Flagg never flinched.
In his freshman season, he was everything the hype promised and more. Averaging 18.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.5 blocks, and 1.8 steals per game, he was the engine that powered Duke to a 32-4 record and a Final Four appearance. He did it all—guarding multiple positions, orchestrating the offense, hitting clutch shots, and igniting the crowd with highlight-reel plays.
But what set Flagg apart wasn’t just his skill. It was his humility.
Despite the media circus, he remained grounded. He credits his family for that—especially his parents, Kelly and Ralph, who instilled in him the values of hard work, gratitude, and perseverance.
“My mom always reminded me that none of this means anything if I don’t stay true to who I am,” Flagg said. “It’s easy to get caught up in the noise. But she kept me focused on what matters.”
What mattered most, to Flagg, was honoring where he came from.
Even as his fame skyrocketed, he never forgot Newport. He wore his Maine roots with pride—often referencing his upbringing in interviews, taking time to mentor young players back home, and even hosting basketball clinics during the offseason.
“There’s a part of me that will always be that kid from the gym in Newport with frost on the windows and dreams bigger than the town,” Flagg said. “That’s who I am.”
In April, Flagg was named the Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year and won the Wooden Award, joining the ranks of Duke legends like Christian Laettner, Shane Battier, and Zion Williamson. But for Cooper, it was less about legacy and more about impact.
“I want to inspire kids who feel overlooked. Kids from small towns. Kids who don’t see anyone from where they’re from making it,” he said. “If I can be that example—if I can help someone believe—it’s all worth it.”
Flagg’s rise has also had ripple effects in Maine, where basketball is now experiencing a renaissance. Participation numbers are up. Local gyms are fuller. And more kids believe they can reach the highest levels of the sport—because one of their own already did.
“We used to tell kids to aim realistic,” said Paul Vachon, a longtime Maine coach. “Now we tell them to aim high. Because Cooper showed us it’s possible.”
As he prepares for the NBA Draft, Flagg is the consensus No. 1 overall pick. Teams are already positioning to land the 6-foot-9 phenom who can play and guard every position. His game draws comparisons to Kevin Durant, Scottie Pippen, and even a young LeBron James.
But when asked who he models his game after, Flagg pauses.
“I watch a lot of players. I study their habits, their tendencies. But I’m trying to be the first Cooper Flagg,” he says with a grin.
That mindset—equal parts humble and hungry—is what makes him so rare. He’s as competitive as they come, often staying in the gym for hours after practice, working on the smallest details. But he’s also a teammate’s dream—unselfish, encouraging, and relentless in his effort to uplift everyone around him.
“I don’t want to just be great. I want the people around me to be great too,” Flagg said. “That’s how you build something special.”
Duke head coach Jon Scheyer calls him the “total package.”
“He’s the kind of player every coach dreams about,” Scheyer said. “But more importantly, he’s the kind of person every program should want to build around. He’s selfless. He’s driven. He’s respectful. And he loves the game in a way that’s contagious.”
As for what’s next, Flagg keeps it simple.
“I’m just focused on getting better,” he said. “The NBA is the next chapter, but it’s still basketball. Still the same game I fell in love with in my driveway back in Maine.”
That driveway, by the way, is still there. His family still lives in the same house. And when Flagg visits, he still shoots on the same hoop, now a little weathered but full of memories.
“It keeps me grounded,” Flagg said. “No matter how big things get, I always want to remember where it all started.”
There’s a serenity in how he speaks, a kind of calm that belies the whirlwind around him. Perhaps it’s the Maine in him. Or perhaps it’s the clarity that comes from knowing who you are and where you’re going.
One thing’s certain—Cooper Flagg is no longer just the pride of Newport. He’s the pride of college basketball. And soon, he’ll be the pride of whatever NBA franchise is lucky enough to draft him.
But he’ll always be that kid from Maine.
The one who believed.
The one who worked.
The one who made it.