Cooper Flagg is not just a name; he is a walking brand that inspires millions of young athletes worldwide. Flagg is a promising basketball prospect, an established celebrity with a massive fan following.
The popular star has several achievements, the latest being AP Player of the Year 2025. Only four freshmen in the last 64 years have been honored with the title.
Praising Cooper Flagg whenever he gets a chance, head coach Jon Scheyer piques, “He always competes, 100% effort, and I think that’s the separator. Obviously, you look at his athleticism, talent, size, and skill-it’s off the charts. But to me, it’s how he competes and who he is as a teammate.”
While we are all well aware of his on-court performances as a versatile Blue Devils forward, little is known about his early life. Do you know why he chose to leave high school when he was so close to the finish line?
Why did Cooper Flagg reclassify in high school?
The freshman left high school at 17 because he wanted to be reclassified to graduate directly in the class of 2024. The aspirational player was reclassified during the summer after his sophomore year. His primary aim was to be the No. 1 overall select in the 2025 draft.
The public announcement on Instagram back in 2023 came as a surprise. Though Bryant Bulldogs was the first NCAA team to offer Flagg a scholarship as an eighth grader, other offers came from the University of Connecticut (UConn Huskies) and Duke University (Blue Devils).
However, Cooper Flagg verbally committed to Duke before expressing interest through the National Letter of Intent (NLI) in October 2023. He joined the Blue Devils as the highest-rated recruit of the 2024 class and has never looked back since.
And now that the Duke star has turned 18, Flagg officially qualifies under the cut-off date. However, the draft date is yet to be announced. It will be interesting to note which team drafts Flagg and becomes instrumental in launching his NBA career.
What are the high schools that Cooper Flagg played for?
The Maine Gatorade Player of the Year attended Nokomis High School. The alma mater gave him ample room to hone his skills and develop his gameplay. His achievements at the Maine school were nothing short of extraordinary, a place where the amateur was presented with opportunities that helped him win the Class A State Championship for Nokomis against Falmouth High School, 43-27.
Born and brought up in Newport, Maine, young Cooper Flagg’s parents became his backbone, supporting his academic and athletic decisions. Kelly and Ralph Flagg, both with ample basketball experience, encouraged their son to pursue his basketball career. The two became influential forces in Flagg’s journey, emotionally and mentally helping him surf through the highs and lows that come with the sport. His parents never missed Flagg’s game, always cheering for him and the team from the stands!
Having completed his freshman year at Nokomis, Flagg received a better platform to showcase his stellar talents when he was transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida. The determined Blue Devil began trying his hand at the sport before the official school year even began! Joining hands with the Florida Eagles, an amateur athletic union affiliated with Montverde, Flagg proceeded to participate in his first ever Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL).
Talk about a full-circle moment—fate threw Cooper Flagg right into the fire when he had to face off against his old squad, Maine United, in the EYBL season finale. But pressure? Flagg doesn’t flinch. He stepped onto that court with ice in his veins and lit it up at the Peach Jam, averaging a jaw-dropping 25.4 points, 13 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 6.9 blocks across seven games. With numbers like that, he didn’t just show up—he took over and carried the Eagles straight to victory.
Talk about handling so many achievements at his age and the constant pressure to upgrade himself! Addressing precisely these, Kelly said, “I think he sees it, but he really doesn’t let it bother him. He’s so comfortable with who he is, and he’s always been that way. That’s why he doesn’t get rattled easily, because he believes in himself, and it doesn’t really matter to him what other people think.”
What are Cooper Flagg’s high school stats?
Back in his days at Nokomis High, Flagg was already putting up numbers that turned heads—averaging 20.5 points, 10 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 3.7 steals, and 3.7 blocks per game. The kid was a full-on stat sheet stuffer. Fast forward to Montverde Academy, and he kept the fire blazing. In the 2023 Hoophall Classic, he dropped 21 points, swiped 5 steals, snagged 5 boards, and handed out 3 assists to earn MVP honors like it was just another day at the office.
Cooper Flagg’s His first season at the academy saw him clocking in with solid averages of 9.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3 assists per game—just the beginning of something special. But it was his final year that sealed the legend. Cooper led Montverde to a flawless 34-0 record, putting up 16.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.7 blocks per game. That run ended with Montverde’s eighth national championship—and with Flagg firmly established as a superstar in the making.
Is it any wonder he’s one of the most adored young athletes in the country right now? The game, the glow, and the charm—this “chocolate boy” has it all.
The Devils’ roster includes strong players like Cooper Flagg, Tyrese Proctor, Stanley Borden, and Khaman Maluach as they prepare to face the Houston Cougars in a fantastic showdown on Saturday. Who, according to you, should have the last laugh? Let us know in the comments below.
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