A 3-pointer over Anthony Davis, swish. A baseline turnaround over Jrue Vacation, straightforward. An acrobatic putback after crashing the boards and getting fouled by Bam Adebayo, no downside.
These are three of the most effective defenders within the NBA.
Cooper Flagg is 17 years previous. He held his personal in opposition to all of them.
The story of apply for the U.S. Olympic basketball workforce on Monday was Flagg, who hasn’t even performed his first school sport but. The Duke freshman — a part of the choose workforce that was invited to work out in opposition to the Olympic squad throughout their coaching camp and extensively believed to be within the combine because the No. 1 choose in subsequent 12 months’s draft — regarded completely comfy going in opposition to a number of the NBA’s greatest names.
“The chance, it was nice,” Flagg mentioned. “It was a blessing to be right here. I feel simply the physicality, and simply the extent of the place I wish to get to, there’s lots to get higher at, lots the place I must hold bettering. This confirmed simply how large the main points are.”
He will certainly get higher. That may be a scary idea.
“He kicked butt right here,” U.S. choose workforce coach Jamahl Mosley of the Orlando Magic mentioned. “There’s a respect issue for what he’s accomplished. Individuals who haven’t seen him play, as he will get himself going throughout the sport, they shortly see what he can do.”
The choose workforce is often made up of younger NBA gamers, introduced in to scrimmage the nationwide workforce and assist them put together for both World Cup or Olympic competitors. Flagg was the primary school participant requested to be a part of the choose workforce since Doug McDermott and Marcus Sensible had been requested to hitch a mini-camp in 2013.
However these conditions weren’t wherever close to the identical as Flagg being a part of this camp. McDermott had performed 110 school video games for Creighton at that time and was a two-time consensus All-American. Sensible was coming off a freshman season when he received Massive 12 rookie of the 12 months and participant of the 12 months honors at Oklahoma State. They had been already confirmed.
Flagg has zero school factors. He nonetheless proved a lot on this camp.
“He desires it,” U.S. guard Devin Booker mentioned. “I do know this expertise, he’ll take with him and transfer ahead.”
In Monday’s scrimmage — the Olympic workforce beat the choose workforce 74-73 — Flagg was in the midst of every little thing down the stretch and regarded completely snug. And when it was over, there have been loads of footage with everybody; the choose workforce’s ultimate day in camp was Monday, although some could also be invited to stay round to proceed helping the Olympic squad.
“To have the ability to do what he did, not even enjoying a university sport, not to mention an NBA sport, there is no concern,” choose workforce ahead Jaime Jaquez Jr. of the Miami Warmth mentioned. “It’s relentless. And the factor that you could inform about him is that he simply has a knack and the need to win. He does not want the ball. He simply finds a solution to it. And the ball finds its solution to him. That’s one thing that you could’t train. He is simply obtained an ideal really feel for the sport.”
Flagg is a 6-foot-9 ahead from Newport, Maine, however performed his final three years of highschool basketball at Montverde Academy in Florida. He selected Duke over Connecticut, was USA Basketball’s male athlete of the 12 months in 2022 after main the People to gold on the U17 World Cup, and was the Gatorade Nationwide Participant of the Yr, Naismith Participant of the Yr and a McDonald’s All-American in his ultimate highschool season.
“I used to be shocked, I used to be shocked, and I used to be actually excited for this chance,” Flagg mentioned. “And I’m simply actually blessed that I used to be capable of come out and capitalize on it and present what I’ve. I used to be actually grateful to come back out and be taught. That was the largest factor for me, simply having the ability to be taught and develop, to share a fitness center with all of those nice, nice names. Legends. So, I’m simply really blessed.”
A 3-pointer over Anthony Davis, swish. A baseline turnaround over Jrue Vacation, straightforward. An acrobatic putback after crashing the boards and getting fouled by Bam Adebayo, no downside.
These are three of the most effective defenders within the NBA.
Cooper Flagg is 17 years previous. He held his personal in opposition to all of them.
The story of apply for the U.S. Olympic basketball workforce on Monday was Flagg, who hasn’t even performed his first school sport but. The Duke freshman — a part of the choose workforce that was invited to work out in opposition to the Olympic squad throughout their coaching camp and extensively believed to be within the combine because the No. 1 choose in subsequent 12 months’s draft — regarded completely comfy going in opposition to a number of the NBA’s greatest names.
“The chance, it was nice,” Flagg mentioned. “It was a blessing to be right here. I feel simply the physicality, and simply the extent of the place I wish to get to, there’s lots to get higher at, lots the place I must hold bettering. This confirmed simply how large the main points are.”
He will certainly get higher. That may be a scary idea.
“He kicked butt right here,” U.S. choose workforce coach Jamahl Mosley of the Orlando Magic mentioned. “There’s a respect issue for what he’s accomplished. Individuals who haven’t seen him play, as he will get himself going throughout the sport, they shortly see what he can do.”
The choose workforce is often made up of younger NBA gamers, introduced in to scrimmage the nationwide workforce and assist them put together for both World Cup or Olympic competitors. Flagg was the primary school participant requested to be a part of the choose workforce since Doug McDermott and Marcus Sensible had been requested to hitch a mini-camp in 2013.
However these conditions weren’t wherever close to the identical as Flagg being a part of this camp. McDermott had performed 110 school video games for Creighton at that time and was a two-time consensus All-American. Sensible was coming off a freshman season when he received Massive 12 rookie of the 12 months and participant of the 12 months honors at Oklahoma State. They had been already confirmed.
Flagg has zero school factors. He nonetheless proved a lot on this camp.
“He desires it,” U.S. guard Devin Booker mentioned. “I do know this expertise, he’ll take with him and transfer ahead.”
In Monday’s scrimmage — the Olympic workforce beat the choose workforce 74-73 — Flagg was in the midst of every little thing down the stretch and regarded completely snug. And when it was over, there have been loads of footage with everybody; the choose workforce’s ultimate day in camp was Monday, although some could also be invited to stay round to proceed helping the Olympic squad.
“To have the ability to do what he did, not even enjoying a university sport, not to mention an NBA sport, there is no concern,” choose workforce ahead Jaime Jaquez Jr. of the Miami Warmth mentioned. “It’s relentless. And the factor that you could inform about him is that he simply has a knack and the need to win. He does not want the ball. He simply finds a solution to it. And the ball finds its solution to him. That’s one thing that you could’t train. He is simply obtained an ideal really feel for the sport.”
Flagg is a 6-foot-9 ahead from Newport, Maine, however performed his final three years of highschool basketball at Montverde Academy in Florida. He selected Duke over Connecticut, was USA Basketball’s male athlete of the 12 months in 2022 after main the People to gold on the U17 World Cup, and was the Gatorade Nationwide Participant of the Yr, Naismith Participant of the Yr and a McDonald’s All-American in his ultimate highschool season.
“I used to be shocked, I used to be shocked, and I used to be actually excited for this chance,” Flagg mentioned. “And I’m simply actually blessed that I used to be capable of come out and capitalize on it and present what I’ve. I used to be actually grateful to come back out and be taught. That was the largest factor for me, simply having the ability to be taught and develop, to share a fitness center with all of those nice, nice names. Legends. So, I’m simply really blessed.”
A 3-pointer over Anthony Davis, swish. A baseline turnaround over Jrue Vacation, straightforward. An acrobatic putback after crashing the boards and getting fouled by Bam Adebayo, no downside.
These are three of the most effective defenders within the NBA.
Cooper Flagg is 17 years previous. He held his personal in opposition to all of them.
The story of apply for the U.S. Olympic basketball workforce on Monday was Flagg, who hasn’t even performed his first school sport but. The Duke freshman — a part of the choose workforce that was invited to work out in opposition to the Olympic squad throughout their coaching camp and extensively believed to be within the combine because the No. 1 choose in subsequent 12 months’s draft — regarded completely comfy going in opposition to a number of the NBA’s greatest names.
“The chance, it was nice,” Flagg mentioned. “It was a blessing to be right here. I feel simply the physicality, and simply the extent of the place I wish to get to, there’s lots to get higher at, lots the place I must hold bettering. This confirmed simply how large the main points are.”
He will certainly get higher. That may be a scary idea.
“He kicked butt right here,” U.S. choose workforce coach Jamahl Mosley of the Orlando Magic mentioned. “There’s a respect issue for what he’s accomplished. Individuals who haven’t seen him play, as he will get himself going throughout the sport, they shortly see what he can do.”
The choose workforce is often made up of younger NBA gamers, introduced in to scrimmage the nationwide workforce and assist them put together for both World Cup or Olympic competitors. Flagg was the primary school participant requested to be a part of the choose workforce since Doug McDermott and Marcus Sensible had been requested to hitch a mini-camp in 2013.
However these conditions weren’t wherever close to the identical as Flagg being a part of this camp. McDermott had performed 110 school video games for Creighton at that time and was a two-time consensus All-American. Sensible was coming off a freshman season when he received Massive 12 rookie of the 12 months and participant of the 12 months honors at Oklahoma State. They had been already confirmed.
Flagg has zero school factors. He nonetheless proved a lot on this camp.
“He desires it,” U.S. guard Devin Booker mentioned. “I do know this expertise, he’ll take with him and transfer ahead.”
In Monday’s scrimmage — the Olympic workforce beat the choose workforce 74-73 — Flagg was in the midst of every little thing down the stretch and regarded completely snug. And when it was over, there have been loads of footage with everybody; the choose workforce’s ultimate day in camp was Monday, although some could also be invited to stay round to proceed helping the Olympic squad.
“To have the ability to do what he did, not even enjoying a university sport, not to mention an NBA sport, there is no concern,” choose workforce ahead Jaime Jaquez Jr. of the Miami Warmth mentioned. “It’s relentless. And the factor that you could inform about him is that he simply has a knack and the need to win. He does not want the ball. He simply finds a solution to it. And the ball finds its solution to him. That’s one thing that you could’t train. He is simply obtained an ideal really feel for the sport.”
Flagg is a 6-foot-9 ahead from Newport, Maine, however performed his final three years of highschool basketball at Montverde Academy in Florida. He selected Duke over Connecticut, was USA Basketball’s male athlete of the 12 months in 2022 after main the People to gold on the U17 World Cup, and was the Gatorade Nationwide Participant of the Yr, Naismith Participant of the Yr and a McDonald’s All-American in his ultimate highschool season.
“I used to be shocked, I used to be shocked, and I used to be actually excited for this chance,” Flagg mentioned. “And I’m simply actually blessed that I used to be capable of come out and capitalize on it and present what I’ve. I used to be actually grateful to come back out and be taught. That was the largest factor for me, simply having the ability to be taught and develop, to share a fitness center with all of those nice, nice names. Legends. So, I’m simply really blessed.”
A 3-pointer over Anthony Davis, swish. A baseline turnaround over Jrue Vacation, straightforward. An acrobatic putback after crashing the boards and getting fouled by Bam Adebayo, no downside.
These are three of the most effective defenders within the NBA.
Cooper Flagg is 17 years previous. He held his personal in opposition to all of them.
The story of apply for the U.S. Olympic basketball workforce on Monday was Flagg, who hasn’t even performed his first school sport but. The Duke freshman — a part of the choose workforce that was invited to work out in opposition to the Olympic squad throughout their coaching camp and extensively believed to be within the combine because the No. 1 choose in subsequent 12 months’s draft — regarded completely comfy going in opposition to a number of the NBA’s greatest names.
“The chance, it was nice,” Flagg mentioned. “It was a blessing to be right here. I feel simply the physicality, and simply the extent of the place I wish to get to, there’s lots to get higher at, lots the place I must hold bettering. This confirmed simply how large the main points are.”
He will certainly get higher. That may be a scary idea.
“He kicked butt right here,” U.S. choose workforce coach Jamahl Mosley of the Orlando Magic mentioned. “There’s a respect issue for what he’s accomplished. Individuals who haven’t seen him play, as he will get himself going throughout the sport, they shortly see what he can do.”
The choose workforce is often made up of younger NBA gamers, introduced in to scrimmage the nationwide workforce and assist them put together for both World Cup or Olympic competitors. Flagg was the primary school participant requested to be a part of the choose workforce since Doug McDermott and Marcus Sensible had been requested to hitch a mini-camp in 2013.
However these conditions weren’t wherever close to the identical as Flagg being a part of this camp. McDermott had performed 110 school video games for Creighton at that time and was a two-time consensus All-American. Sensible was coming off a freshman season when he received Massive 12 rookie of the 12 months and participant of the 12 months honors at Oklahoma State. They had been already confirmed.
Flagg has zero school factors. He nonetheless proved a lot on this camp.
“He desires it,” U.S. guard Devin Booker mentioned. “I do know this expertise, he’ll take with him and transfer ahead.”
In Monday’s scrimmage — the Olympic workforce beat the choose workforce 74-73 — Flagg was in the midst of every little thing down the stretch and regarded completely snug. And when it was over, there have been loads of footage with everybody; the choose workforce’s ultimate day in camp was Monday, although some could also be invited to stay round to proceed helping the Olympic squad.
“To have the ability to do what he did, not even enjoying a university sport, not to mention an NBA sport, there is no concern,” choose workforce ahead Jaime Jaquez Jr. of the Miami Warmth mentioned. “It’s relentless. And the factor that you could inform about him is that he simply has a knack and the need to win. He does not want the ball. He simply finds a solution to it. And the ball finds its solution to him. That’s one thing that you could’t train. He is simply obtained an ideal really feel for the sport.”
Flagg is a 6-foot-9 ahead from Newport, Maine, however performed his final three years of highschool basketball at Montverde Academy in Florida. He selected Duke over Connecticut, was USA Basketball’s male athlete of the 12 months in 2022 after main the People to gold on the U17 World Cup, and was the Gatorade Nationwide Participant of the Yr, Naismith Participant of the Yr and a McDonald’s All-American in his ultimate highschool season.
“I used to be shocked, I used to be shocked, and I used to be actually excited for this chance,” Flagg mentioned. “And I’m simply actually blessed that I used to be capable of come out and capitalize on it and present what I’ve. I used to be actually grateful to come back out and be taught. That was the largest factor for me, simply having the ability to be taught and develop, to share a fitness center with all of those nice, nice names. Legends. So, I’m simply really blessed.”
A 3-pointer over Anthony Davis, swish. A baseline turnaround over Jrue Vacation, straightforward. An acrobatic putback after crashing the boards and getting fouled by Bam Adebayo, no downside.
These are three of the most effective defenders within the NBA.
Cooper Flagg is 17 years previous. He held his personal in opposition to all of them.
The story of apply for the U.S. Olympic basketball workforce on Monday was Flagg, who hasn’t even performed his first school sport but. The Duke freshman — a part of the choose workforce that was invited to work out in opposition to the Olympic squad throughout their coaching camp and extensively believed to be within the combine because the No. 1 choose in subsequent 12 months’s draft — regarded completely comfy going in opposition to a number of the NBA’s greatest names.
“The chance, it was nice,” Flagg mentioned. “It was a blessing to be right here. I feel simply the physicality, and simply the extent of the place I wish to get to, there’s lots to get higher at, lots the place I must hold bettering. This confirmed simply how large the main points are.”
He will certainly get higher. That may be a scary idea.
“He kicked butt right here,” U.S. choose workforce coach Jamahl Mosley of the Orlando Magic mentioned. “There’s a respect issue for what he’s accomplished. Individuals who haven’t seen him play, as he will get himself going throughout the sport, they shortly see what he can do.”
The choose workforce is often made up of younger NBA gamers, introduced in to scrimmage the nationwide workforce and assist them put together for both World Cup or Olympic competitors. Flagg was the primary school participant requested to be a part of the choose workforce since Doug McDermott and Marcus Sensible had been requested to hitch a mini-camp in 2013.
However these conditions weren’t wherever close to the identical as Flagg being a part of this camp. McDermott had performed 110 school video games for Creighton at that time and was a two-time consensus All-American. Sensible was coming off a freshman season when he received Massive 12 rookie of the 12 months and participant of the 12 months honors at Oklahoma State. They had been already confirmed.
Flagg has zero school factors. He nonetheless proved a lot on this camp.
“He desires it,” U.S. guard Devin Booker mentioned. “I do know this expertise, he’ll take with him and transfer ahead.”
In Monday’s scrimmage — the Olympic workforce beat the choose workforce 74-73 — Flagg was in the midst of every little thing down the stretch and regarded completely snug. And when it was over, there have been loads of footage with everybody; the choose workforce’s ultimate day in camp was Monday, although some could also be invited to stay round to proceed helping the Olympic squad.
“To have the ability to do what he did, not even enjoying a university sport, not to mention an NBA sport, there is no concern,” choose workforce ahead Jaime Jaquez Jr. of the Miami Warmth mentioned. “It’s relentless. And the factor that you could inform about him is that he simply has a knack and the need to win. He does not want the ball. He simply finds a solution to it. And the ball finds its solution to him. That’s one thing that you could’t train. He is simply obtained an ideal really feel for the sport.”
Flagg is a 6-foot-9 ahead from Newport, Maine, however performed his final three years of highschool basketball at Montverde Academy in Florida. He selected Duke over Connecticut, was USA Basketball’s male athlete of the 12 months in 2022 after main the People to gold on the U17 World Cup, and was the Gatorade Nationwide Participant of the Yr, Naismith Participant of the Yr and a McDonald’s All-American in his ultimate highschool season.
“I used to be shocked, I used to be shocked, and I used to be actually excited for this chance,” Flagg mentioned. “And I’m simply actually blessed that I used to be capable of come out and capitalize on it and present what I’ve. I used to be actually grateful to come back out and be taught. That was the largest factor for me, simply having the ability to be taught and develop, to share a fitness center with all of those nice, nice names. Legends. So, I’m simply really blessed.”
A 3-pointer over Anthony Davis, swish. A baseline turnaround over Jrue Vacation, straightforward. An acrobatic putback after crashing the boards and getting fouled by Bam Adebayo, no downside.
These are three of the most effective defenders within the NBA.
Cooper Flagg is 17 years previous. He held his personal in opposition to all of them.
The story of apply for the U.S. Olympic basketball workforce on Monday was Flagg, who hasn’t even performed his first school sport but. The Duke freshman — a part of the choose workforce that was invited to work out in opposition to the Olympic squad throughout their coaching camp and extensively believed to be within the combine because the No. 1 choose in subsequent 12 months’s draft — regarded completely comfy going in opposition to a number of the NBA’s greatest names.
“The chance, it was nice,” Flagg mentioned. “It was a blessing to be right here. I feel simply the physicality, and simply the extent of the place I wish to get to, there’s lots to get higher at, lots the place I must hold bettering. This confirmed simply how large the main points are.”
He will certainly get higher. That may be a scary idea.
“He kicked butt right here,” U.S. choose workforce coach Jamahl Mosley of the Orlando Magic mentioned. “There’s a respect issue for what he’s accomplished. Individuals who haven’t seen him play, as he will get himself going throughout the sport, they shortly see what he can do.”
The choose workforce is often made up of younger NBA gamers, introduced in to scrimmage the nationwide workforce and assist them put together for both World Cup or Olympic competitors. Flagg was the primary school participant requested to be a part of the choose workforce since Doug McDermott and Marcus Sensible had been requested to hitch a mini-camp in 2013.
However these conditions weren’t wherever close to the identical as Flagg being a part of this camp. McDermott had performed 110 school video games for Creighton at that time and was a two-time consensus All-American. Sensible was coming off a freshman season when he received Massive 12 rookie of the 12 months and participant of the 12 months honors at Oklahoma State. They had been already confirmed.
Flagg has zero school factors. He nonetheless proved a lot on this camp.
“He desires it,” U.S. guard Devin Booker mentioned. “I do know this expertise, he’ll take with him and transfer ahead.”
In Monday’s scrimmage — the Olympic workforce beat the choose workforce 74-73 — Flagg was in the midst of every little thing down the stretch and regarded completely snug. And when it was over, there have been loads of footage with everybody; the choose workforce’s ultimate day in camp was Monday, although some could also be invited to stay round to proceed helping the Olympic squad.
“To have the ability to do what he did, not even enjoying a university sport, not to mention an NBA sport, there is no concern,” choose workforce ahead Jaime Jaquez Jr. of the Miami Warmth mentioned. “It’s relentless. And the factor that you could inform about him is that he simply has a knack and the need to win. He does not want the ball. He simply finds a solution to it. And the ball finds its solution to him. That’s one thing that you could’t train. He is simply obtained an ideal really feel for the sport.”
Flagg is a 6-foot-9 ahead from Newport, Maine, however performed his final three years of highschool basketball at Montverde Academy in Florida. He selected Duke over Connecticut, was USA Basketball’s male athlete of the 12 months in 2022 after main the People to gold on the U17 World Cup, and was the Gatorade Nationwide Participant of the Yr, Naismith Participant of the Yr and a McDonald’s All-American in his ultimate highschool season.
“I used to be shocked, I used to be shocked, and I used to be actually excited for this chance,” Flagg mentioned. “And I’m simply actually blessed that I used to be capable of come out and capitalize on it and present what I’ve. I used to be actually grateful to come back out and be taught. That was the largest factor for me, simply having the ability to be taught and develop, to share a fitness center with all of those nice, nice names. Legends. So, I’m simply really blessed.”
A 3-pointer over Anthony Davis, swish. A baseline turnaround over Jrue Vacation, straightforward. An acrobatic putback after crashing the boards and getting fouled by Bam Adebayo, no downside.
These are three of the most effective defenders within the NBA.
Cooper Flagg is 17 years previous. He held his personal in opposition to all of them.
The story of apply for the U.S. Olympic basketball workforce on Monday was Flagg, who hasn’t even performed his first school sport but. The Duke freshman — a part of the choose workforce that was invited to work out in opposition to the Olympic squad throughout their coaching camp and extensively believed to be within the combine because the No. 1 choose in subsequent 12 months’s draft — regarded completely comfy going in opposition to a number of the NBA’s greatest names.
“The chance, it was nice,” Flagg mentioned. “It was a blessing to be right here. I feel simply the physicality, and simply the extent of the place I wish to get to, there’s lots to get higher at, lots the place I must hold bettering. This confirmed simply how large the main points are.”
He will certainly get higher. That may be a scary idea.
“He kicked butt right here,” U.S. choose workforce coach Jamahl Mosley of the Orlando Magic mentioned. “There’s a respect issue for what he’s accomplished. Individuals who haven’t seen him play, as he will get himself going throughout the sport, they shortly see what he can do.”
The choose workforce is often made up of younger NBA gamers, introduced in to scrimmage the nationwide workforce and assist them put together for both World Cup or Olympic competitors. Flagg was the primary school participant requested to be a part of the choose workforce since Doug McDermott and Marcus Sensible had been requested to hitch a mini-camp in 2013.
However these conditions weren’t wherever close to the identical as Flagg being a part of this camp. McDermott had performed 110 school video games for Creighton at that time and was a two-time consensus All-American. Sensible was coming off a freshman season when he received Massive 12 rookie of the 12 months and participant of the 12 months honors at Oklahoma State. They had been already confirmed.
Flagg has zero school factors. He nonetheless proved a lot on this camp.
“He desires it,” U.S. guard Devin Booker mentioned. “I do know this expertise, he’ll take with him and transfer ahead.”
In Monday’s scrimmage — the Olympic workforce beat the choose workforce 74-73 — Flagg was in the midst of every little thing down the stretch and regarded completely snug. And when it was over, there have been loads of footage with everybody; the choose workforce’s ultimate day in camp was Monday, although some could also be invited to stay round to proceed helping the Olympic squad.
“To have the ability to do what he did, not even enjoying a university sport, not to mention an NBA sport, there is no concern,” choose workforce ahead Jaime Jaquez Jr. of the Miami Warmth mentioned. “It’s relentless. And the factor that you could inform about him is that he simply has a knack and the need to win. He does not want the ball. He simply finds a solution to it. And the ball finds its solution to him. That’s one thing that you could’t train. He is simply obtained an ideal really feel for the sport.”
Flagg is a 6-foot-9 ahead from Newport, Maine, however performed his final three years of highschool basketball at Montverde Academy in Florida. He selected Duke over Connecticut, was USA Basketball’s male athlete of the 12 months in 2022 after main the People to gold on the U17 World Cup, and was the Gatorade Nationwide Participant of the Yr, Naismith Participant of the Yr and a McDonald’s All-American in his ultimate highschool season.
“I used to be shocked, I used to be shocked, and I used to be actually excited for this chance,” Flagg mentioned. “And I’m simply actually blessed that I used to be capable of come out and capitalize on it and present what I’ve. I used to be actually grateful to come back out and be taught. That was the largest factor for me, simply having the ability to be taught and develop, to share a fitness center with all of those nice, nice names. Legends. So, I’m simply really blessed.”
A 3-pointer over Anthony Davis, swish. A baseline turnaround over Jrue Vacation, straightforward. An acrobatic putback after crashing the boards and getting fouled by Bam Adebayo, no downside.
These are three of the most effective defenders within the NBA.
Cooper Flagg is 17 years previous. He held his personal in opposition to all of them.
The story of apply for the U.S. Olympic basketball workforce on Monday was Flagg, who hasn’t even performed his first school sport but. The Duke freshman — a part of the choose workforce that was invited to work out in opposition to the Olympic squad throughout their coaching camp and extensively believed to be within the combine because the No. 1 choose in subsequent 12 months’s draft — regarded completely comfy going in opposition to a number of the NBA’s greatest names.
“The chance, it was nice,” Flagg mentioned. “It was a blessing to be right here. I feel simply the physicality, and simply the extent of the place I wish to get to, there’s lots to get higher at, lots the place I must hold bettering. This confirmed simply how large the main points are.”
He will certainly get higher. That may be a scary idea.
“He kicked butt right here,” U.S. choose workforce coach Jamahl Mosley of the Orlando Magic mentioned. “There’s a respect issue for what he’s accomplished. Individuals who haven’t seen him play, as he will get himself going throughout the sport, they shortly see what he can do.”
The choose workforce is often made up of younger NBA gamers, introduced in to scrimmage the nationwide workforce and assist them put together for both World Cup or Olympic competitors. Flagg was the primary school participant requested to be a part of the choose workforce since Doug McDermott and Marcus Sensible had been requested to hitch a mini-camp in 2013.
However these conditions weren’t wherever close to the identical as Flagg being a part of this camp. McDermott had performed 110 school video games for Creighton at that time and was a two-time consensus All-American. Sensible was coming off a freshman season when he received Massive 12 rookie of the 12 months and participant of the 12 months honors at Oklahoma State. They had been already confirmed.
Flagg has zero school factors. He nonetheless proved a lot on this camp.
“He desires it,” U.S. guard Devin Booker mentioned. “I do know this expertise, he’ll take with him and transfer ahead.”
In Monday’s scrimmage — the Olympic workforce beat the choose workforce 74-73 — Flagg was in the midst of every little thing down the stretch and regarded completely snug. And when it was over, there have been loads of footage with everybody; the choose workforce’s ultimate day in camp was Monday, although some could also be invited to stay round to proceed helping the Olympic squad.
“To have the ability to do what he did, not even enjoying a university sport, not to mention an NBA sport, there is no concern,” choose workforce ahead Jaime Jaquez Jr. of the Miami Warmth mentioned. “It’s relentless. And the factor that you could inform about him is that he simply has a knack and the need to win. He does not want the ball. He simply finds a solution to it. And the ball finds its solution to him. That’s one thing that you could’t train. He is simply obtained an ideal really feel for the sport.”
Flagg is a 6-foot-9 ahead from Newport, Maine, however performed his final three years of highschool basketball at Montverde Academy in Florida. He selected Duke over Connecticut, was USA Basketball’s male athlete of the 12 months in 2022 after main the People to gold on the U17 World Cup, and was the Gatorade Nationwide Participant of the Yr, Naismith Participant of the Yr and a McDonald’s All-American in his ultimate highschool season.
“I used to be shocked, I used to be shocked, and I used to be actually excited for this chance,” Flagg mentioned. “And I’m simply actually blessed that I used to be capable of come out and capitalize on it and present what I’ve. I used to be actually grateful to come back out and be taught. That was the largest factor for me, simply having the ability to be taught and develop, to share a fitness center with all of those nice, nice names. Legends. So, I’m simply really blessed.”