Cooper Flagg Player Bio for NBADraft.net
by Drew Wolin
Player Comparison
Blake Griffin meets Andrei Kirilenko
Summary
Currently the top ranked high school player in the nation and projected first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Top tier athlete with rare shot blocking instincts/defensive interest combined with excellent rebounding ability and all-around offensive game. Flagg is a legit triple double threat with blocked shots. He may not be quite on the LeBron / Wemby level as a prospect. But he’s just a step below. Flagg is an absolute monster with a “unicorn” combination of length, athleticism, skill, and competitiveness. He does it all, and he lets you know about it too, talking his talk and backing it up.
Strengths
As explosive as prospect as we ever see… has great size at 6'8"+ (appears to still be growing) and what appears to be over a 7-foot wingspan (though no official measurement has yet been reported)… Let’s start with defense: Flagg would routinely — yes, routinely — accumulate 10 blocks or more in his high school games… has great timing and instincts combined with a tenacity and real desire to get after opponents’ shots... As mentioned, he’s long, and ultra explosive (quick off his feet and has a good second- and third-jump)... Goes up defensively with two hands taking advantage of “verticality” and keeping great body control despite slight frame… On the perimeter, defensively, Flagg is sound. Not quite as elite at this stage as with shot blocking, but very good (and gets impressive steal numbers)… Defensive length, instincts, and interest are elite… Offensively, Flagg is a high flying finisher and a nightmare on the fast break... Very fast in the open court… gets to the rim with ease also in the halfcourt… creative playmaker as well with excellent court vision… Love his competitiveness… fiery, feisty player… has the type of attitude that can’t be taught… talks his talk and backs it up… Likes to get flashy with a behind the back pass, tomahawk jam, or his trademark monster block (swat)…has wiry strength in a thin frame… In the half court, loves to blow by his man, go into a powerful jump stop, and explode up for a two-handed jam… Has developed a reliable outside shot out to NBA 3-point range with a clean release… Can also hit a mid-range jump shot… Down low, when he’s not trying to rip the rim off the hoop, he has ability to hit a drop step into a soft floater or baby hook shot… Active on the boards, both offensive and defensive… boxes out and has good fundamentals… Can absorb contact better than you’d think from looking at his currently somewhat slim frame, both on the boards and on the finish.
Weaknesses
While Flagg is a good scorer and aggressive player, he is not an explosive scorer who will put 50 points on the board — important note for a player ranked as highly as Flagg… At this stage, while Flagg has plenty of tools on offense, defense is more his calling card… Handle is good enough to create off the dribble, but not an area where he excels. Can clean up in this area a bit to take his offensive game to the next level… Jumpshot form can be inconsistent and a hair slow. It’s more of a set shot sometimes from three, but usually a jumpshot from mid range… While physically strong against high school competition, will need to continue to add strength while maintaining mobility to sustain his elite-defender status at the next level… Currently a good playmaker. But still has room to grow in this area as well to reach true “point forward” status…
Notes
Flagg grew up in Newport, Maine and initially attended Nokomis Regional High School, where he became the first freshman to be named the Maine Gatorade Player of the Year (averaging 20.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 3.7 steals, and 3.7 blocks per game). He also led his team to a blowout 43–27 win in the state championship game against Falmouth High School (tallying 22 points, which was more than half of what his own team scored, and nearly equal to the entire output from the opposition… plus 16 rebounds).
Transferred to Montverde Academy (alma mater of former #1 overall picks Joel Embiid, Cade Cunningham and Ben Simmons) at the end of his freshman year.
Both of Flagg’s parents are former ballers. Mother, Kelly, played basketball at University of Maine (1995–99) and was a three-time America East champion, made four NCAA Tournament appearances and was team captain as a senior. His father, Ralph, played NJCAA basketball at Eastern Maine Community College.
Flagg has a twin brother, Ace, who was a teammate at Nokomis and Montverde. They also have an older brother, Hunter, who was a former player and current coach.
Flagg has reclassified from 2025 class to the class of 2024.
Flagg played for the United States under-17 basketball team at the 2022 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup… named to the All-Tournament Team after averaging 9.3 points, 10 rebounds, 2.9 blocked shots, and 2.4 steals per game as the United States won the gold medal… scored 10 points with 17 rebounds, eight steals, and four blocked shots in a 79–67 win over Spain in the final… Became the youngest ever USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year in 2022. Flagg was one of the three youngest players on the team and was sixth in minutes played. Yet he led the team in rebounds (10.0), steals (2.4), and blocks (2.9).
As a sophomore, Helped lead Montverde to GEICO Nationals before ultimately falling short in an upset loss to Sunrise Christian Academy (whose top player is potential top 2024 NBA draft pick Matas Buzelis).
On a Montverde team with 11 future Division 1 players, Flagg finished his sophomore sesaon top three on the team in points, rebounds, and assists and first in steals and blocks.
Averaged 25.4 points, 13.0 rebounds, an eye popping 6.9 blocks and 5.7 assists over seven games at the 2023 Nike Peach Jam, leading Maine United to a second-place finish behind the Class of 2025’s #1-ranked player Cam Boozer and Nightrydas Elite.
Was named the MVP of the 2023 Hoophall Classic after scoring 21 points, 5 steals, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists in Montverde’s 85–63 victory over La Lumiere.
Flagg’s current high school coach, Kevin Boyle, has coached Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson, Michael Kidd Gilchrist, and Al Harrington at St. Patrick’s in New Jersey, and Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes, and Cade Cunningham at Montverde. He had this to say about Flagg (to ZAGSBLOG): “He’s right up there with anyone [I’ve coached]. His talent and his versatility makes him very unique. His size, his ability to fill up a stat sheet are incredibly special. He can have 10 points and be very instrumental with a handful of assists and deflections and blocked shots and defending the key player on the other team… He can be such an incredibly valuable player in today’s NBA world because of his versatility that is really unique.”
UCONN and Duke are heavily favored in terms of where Flagg will choose to attend college in 2024.
