Cooper Flagg regarded like a person amongst males for the USA Choose Staff throughout its scrimmage towards Staff USA.
In actual fact, the alternative is true. Flagg is a boy amongst males, and although he possesses a manlike power and ability set, the younger participant is simply 17 years outdated.
However Cooper Flagg is in contrast to most 17-year-olds. At 6-foot-9, 205 kilos, Flagg’s stature is already akin to an NBAer’s. The consensus No. 1 recruit within the Class of 2024, Flagg is about to affix Duke subsequent season and is projected to be the No. 1 total decide within the 2025 NBA Draft.
And for good purpose. Flagg’s athleticism and shot-making capacity is elite, and he possesses the size, intangibles and work ethic to become an All-Star caliber participant. He received his first style of All-Star degree competitors Monday, almost main the Choose Staff to a win towards Staff USA in a head-turning efficiency.
Flagg’s expertise was on full show throughout the 74-73 loss. He sized up Anthony Davis close to the appropriate hash mark earlier than rising up for a stone-cold 3-pointer over the 6-foot-11 massive man. He received busy within the submit, hitting a turnaround jumper over Jrue Vacation. He threw in powerful putback lay-up over Bam Adebayo.
His ability has by no means been in query. Flagg is a 2024 McDonald’s American and has a great deal of USA Basketball expertise, together with a spot on the 2022 FIBA Beneath-17 crew, whereas he received the 2024 Nike Hoop Summit as a member of Staff USA.
However the poise and confidence to indicate out towards the world’s finest demonstrates a uncommon capacity that would make Flagg a future nice. And after the efficiency, one NBA coach affirmed that no participant on the squad was higher than Flagg. All of his teammates on the USA Choose Staff — together with Brandin Podziemski, Amen Thompson, Brandon Miller and Jalen Duren — have performed at the very least one season within the NBA.
“He kicked butt right here,” Choose crew coach Jamahl Mosley mentioned. “There’s a respect issue for what he’s achieved. Individuals who haven’t seen him play, as he will get himself going inside the recreation, they rapidly see what he can do.”
For Flagg, who’s the primary faculty participant to be chosen to the Choose crew since Marcus Good and Doug McDermott have been invited to camp in 2013, there’s nonetheless a kid-like awe of the second.
“I used to be shocked, I used to be stunned, and I used to be actually excited for this chance,” Flagg mentioned after listening to that he was chosen. Flagg was the primary participant the choice committee reached out to throughout its course of. “And I’m simply actually blessed that I used to be in a position to 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 most important factor for me, simply with the ability to be taught and develop, to share a gymnasium with all of those nice, nice names. Legends. So, I’m simply really blessed.”
Regardless of his shock, he made the many of the alternative to play towards the greats with confidence.
“I’m assured in my capacity and my ability,” he mentioned after the scrimmage. “On the finish of the day, I’m assured in who I’m and what I can do, so I am simply popping out to play basketball.”
His capacity to compartmentalize the sport is a part of what makes him such an intriguing prospect. And it would not damage to get recommendation from among the finest to ever do it, together with LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry.
“They’ve all simply been fairly welcoming,” Flagg mentioned. “The Choose crew, they’re appreciative of us being right here, and form of getting them prepared, gearing up. So it is all simply welcoming, they’re simply telling me to maintain working and keep grounded.”
Flagg added that if the USA crew can discover its chemistry, will probably be unstoppable on the Olympics.
“They are often no matter crew they need to be,” he mentioned. “They don’t have any weaknesses, no holes. They’ll play any kind of manner and dominate. So it will be a dominant crew that asserts their will on everyone they see.”
Flagg himself is utilizing what he is studying from the minicamp alternative to assist him turn into an unstoppable pressure on the professional degree. However first, some faculty lessons for the 17-year-old.
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