It would be very easy to get consumed by the limelight that Cooper Flagg resides in.
He is a role model for basketball players of all ages across the country, both on and off the court.
Here is a 19-year-old from a small Maine town who was the National Basketball Association’s first overall pick by the Dallas Mavericks and earned Rookie of the Year accolades this past season while playing for one of the worst teams in the NBA.
There were only six teams in the 30-team NBA with a worse record than the 26-56 Mavs.
Prior to coming to the NBA, he became just the fourth freshmen to earn the Naismith College Player of the Year and AP Player of the Year award for his one season at Duke University in 2024-25. The others were Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis and Zion Williamson.
Durant and Davis are sure-fire first-ballot Hall of Famers, while Williamson has had an injury-marred career.
The demands on Flagg’s time are off the charts, but here he was at the University of Maine’s New Balance Fieldhouse and Memorial Gym in Orono over the weekend, heavily involved as a clinician at the third annual Flagg Brothers Basketball ProCamp with twin brother, Ace.
With all of his accomplishments and awards and the media attention, Flagg hasn’t lost sight of the fact he is a Mainer, and he wants to give back to the state and the people who have supported him and will continue to support him. People who hope and pray they will eventually see him in a Boston Celtics uniform.
By his own admission, he enjoys spending time in his home state.
And it probably helps keep him grounded.
The proceeds from the camp go to the Donovan Kurt Memorial Cancer Foundation to help families whose children are dealing with life-threatening illnesses. Kurt was a former high school teammate of the third Flagg brother, Hunter. Kurt died of brain cancer in November 2022, and Cooper Flagg wore the No. 2 at Duke in honor of Kurt, who wore it at Nokomis.
Flagg has always been involved in charity causes.
Hundreds of youngsters ages 6 to 13 had the opportunity to rub shoulders with someone they have watched on television going up against the best players in the world and not only holding his own, but also outplaying a lot of them with his talent and relentless work rate.
Cooper and Ace Flagg, who was an America East All-Rookie team selection this past season at UMaine, weren’t just figureheads at the camp who signed a few autographs and left.
They were active participants, providing lasting memories for the kids and inspiring them to be the best they can be.
During a media session, Cooper Flagg talked about how he never had a chance to attend a camp with big-name clinicians when he was a youngster and that he was happy to provide that opportunity for youngsters in his home state.
Ace Flagg spoke about their desire to instill a deeper love of basketball in the kids and the importance of having fun playing it.
Maine is a basketball state. It always has been and always will be.
The atmosphere at the high school basketball tournaments and the passion of the fans is second to none.
Mainers are humble, hard-working people, and the 6-foot-9 Cooper Flagg epitomizes those traits at the highest level. He outworks opponents.
He has always been more than willing to go toe-to-toe against the world’s best players. He has never been in awe of anyone. He is fearless. He doesn’t take a backseat or shy away from anyone or any situation.
And he has also been a vocal leader even at a tender age.
These are all valuable life lessons for the youngsters, encouraging them to keep their eye on the prize and keep a positive, confident attitude.
Work your tail off. Keep getting better. But also have fun doing it.
Flagg will never be satisfied with his game. He will always be striving to get better.
The Newport native (population 3,133, according to the 2020 census) first burst onto the scene when he teamed up with his brothers to lead Nokomis High School to its first and only Class A state title.
As a freshman, Flagg had 22 points and 16 rebounds in the state final, a 43-27 victory over Falmouth.
He was Maine’s Gatorade Player of the Year.
Later that year, he helped lead Team USA’s Under-17 team to the gold medal at the FIBA World Cup. He was chosen to the all-tourney team.
Two seasons later, he was the National Gatorade Player of the Year after leading Montverde Academy in Florida to the Chipotle National High School championship. He had 16 points, eight rebounds, six blocked shots and two assists in the 79-63 win over St. Paul VI Catholic School from Virginia in the final and was chosen the tourney’s Most Valuable Player.
After leading Duke to the Final Four, his first NBA season was memorable as he became the youngest player in league history to score 40 points in a game (18 years, 359 days) and broke LeBron James’ record for most 40-point games by a rookie by registering four.
There will never be another Cooper Flagg in our lifetime or many lifetimes after that, but that’s not to say future in-state players, including those attending the Flaggs’ camps, can’t be game-changers or difference-makers at a high level.
They certainly can.
And it will be fun to watch.