Cooper Flagg grew up in Newport, Maine, where high school gyms are small, winters are long, and basketball nights bring the whole town together. Long before national headlines, he was just a kid competing against his older brother, learning the game from parents who had played themselves, and spending hours in local gyms that most NBA scouts would never visit.
His path didn’t begin with hype — it built gradually. A dominant freshman season in Maine led to a move to Montverde Academy, where he tested himself against elite competition. At Duke, he showed that his game translated at the highest college level. By the time he entered the NBA Draft, the conversation wasn’t about potential anymore — it was about readiness.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Cooper Flagg |
| Date of Birth | December 21, 2006 |
| Age | 19 years old (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Newport, Maine, USA |
| Height | 6’9″ (206 cm) |
| Weight | 205 lbs (93 kg) |
| Position | Forward (plays both forward positions) |
| Shoots | Left-handed |
| High Schools | Nokomis Regional (Maine), Montverde Academy (Florida) |
| College | Duke University (2024-25) |
Growing Up in Newport, Maine
Cooper was born on December 21, 2006, in Newport, Maine, a small town where basketball became the family religion. His mother Kelly played college basketball at the University of Maine, serving as team captain her senior year. His father Ralph played NJCAA basketball at Eastern Maine Community College.
Basketball genes ran deep. His older brother Hunter played at Nokomis Regional High School and was a senior when Cooper was a freshman. His fraternal twin brother Ace has been his constant teammate and competitor, now playing at the University of Maine.
The Flagg family relocated from Newport to Florida after Cooper and Ace transferred to Montverde Academy, demonstrating the sacrifices parents made to support their sons’ basketball dreams. This move meant leaving their established life in Maine to follow opportunity.
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The Nokomis Regional Prodigy
Cooper began his high school career at Nokomis Regional High School in Newport, where he immediately made history. As a freshman, he became the first freshman ever named Maine Gatorade Player of the Year, averaging 20.5 points, 10 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 3.7 steals, and 3.7 blocks per game.
Those weren’t just good numbers—they were absurd for a 14-year-old competing against seniors. He ranked as the third-best prospect in the 2025 recruiting class after his freshman season, then jumped to second-best by August 2022 after dominating the 2022 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup.
He received his first NCAA Division I scholarship offer from Bryant while still in eighth grade—unheard of for a kid that young. By sophomore year, major programs were circling.
The Montverde Decision and Reclassification
After his freshman year at Nokomis, Cooper transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida, one of the nation’s premier basketball prep schools. The move placed him in an elite training environment with future college and NBA players.
Before his first year at Montverde, he played AAU basketball for the Florida Eagles, Montverde’s affiliated program. He was named MVP of the 2023 Hoophall Classic after scoring 21 points with five steals, five rebounds, and three assists in Montverde’s 85-63 victory over La Lumiere Academy.
During his first season at Montverde, he averaged 9.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and three assists per game while learning to play within a loaded roster. That summer, playing for Maine United in the EYBL Peach Jam tournament, he exploded for 25.4 points, 13 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 6.9 blocks in seven games.
His dominance prompted a crucial decision: reclassify from the 2025 class to 2024, allowing him to reach college and the NBA a year earlier. According to coverage on Duke’s official athletics site, he finished as the highest-rated recruit in the 2024 class.
Choosing Duke Over UConn
Cooper narrowed his college choice to Duke and the University of Connecticut—two programs competing for national championships. He initially planned to announce his commitment on October 27, 2023, but delayed the decision following the tragic Lewiston shootings in Maine, showing maturity and respect for his home state’s grief.
On October 30, 2023, he verbally committed to Duke. He signed his National Letter of Intent on November 8 during the early signing period, becoming the most hyped recruit in Duke basketball history—surpassing even Zion Williamson in recruiting rankings.
Historic Freshman Season at Duke
Cooper enrolled at Duke in June 2024 to participate in summer practices, getting a head start on college competition. He made his debut on November 4, 2024, against Maine (his mother’s alma mater), scoring 18 points with seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals in a 96-62 victory.
His season statistics were phenomenal: 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 48.1% from the field, 38.5% from three, and 84% from the free-throw line. He appeared in 37 games, leading Duke to a 35-4 record.
The defining performance came January 11, 2025, when he scored 42 points against Notre Dame—an ACC freshman record and Duke’s highest single-game total at Cameron Indoor Stadium since 1976. He shot 11-of-14 from the field, 4-of-6 from three, and 16-of-17 from the free-throw line while adding six rebounds and seven assists.
He became the first Duke player since 1986 to lead his team in all five major statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, blocks, steals) in a Final Four game, posting 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and two steals against Houston on April 5, 2025.
Awards and Recognition
Cooper’s freshman season earned him virtually every major award:
- AP National Player of the Year (4th freshman ever)
- Naismith College Player of the Year
- Wooden Award
- USBWA Oscar Robertson Trophy (National Player of the Year)
- USBWA Wayman Tisdale Award (National Freshman of the Year)
- NABC National Player of the Year
- ACC Player of the Year
- ACC Rookie of the Year
- Consensus First-Team All-American
- ACC All-Tournament Team
- NCAA All-Tournament Team (East Region Most Outstanding Player)
He swept both player of the year and freshman of the year awards from the USBWA, joining only Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, and Zion Williamson in accomplishing that feat.
USA Basketball Experience
At just 17 years old, Cooper was named to the USA Select Team that practiced against the U.S. Men’s National Team preparing for the 2024 Paris Olympics. He was the only teenager and only collegiate player among 15 athletes selected—practicing against LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and other NBA superstars.
He became the youngest winner of USA Basketball’s Male Athlete of the Year award (2022) since the honor’s inception in 1980, earned after his performance at the FIBA U17 World Cup.
The 2025 NBA Draft
On April 21, 2025, Cooper officially declared for the NBA Draft after Duke’s season ended in the Final Four. “League next. Duke forever,” he wrote, thanking the program that had supported him.
According to NBA.com‘s official draft coverage, he was universally projected as the first overall pick. The Dallas Mavericks won the draft lottery despite having just a 1.8% chance, securing the right to select him.
On June 25, 2025, the Mavericks selected Cooper first overall. At 18 years and 186 days old, he became the second-youngest number one pick in NBA history, trailing only LeBron James (18 years, 178 days) in 2003.
NBA Contract and Salary
Cooper signed his four-year rookie contract with Dallas on July 3, 2025. The deal is worth $62.7 million total, with $28.3 million guaranteed. His salaries break down as:
- 2025-26: $13.8 million
- 2026-27: $14.5 million
- 2027-28: $15.2 million (team option)
- 2028-29: $19.2 million (team option)
His first-year salary of $13.8 million exceeded the previous year’s number one pick by over $1 million, reflecting the NBA’s revenue growth. This doesn’t include his shoe deal with New Balance, signed before his freshman season, or other endorsement opportunities.
Personal Life and Rumored Girlfriend
Cooper maintains extreme privacy around his personal life. He’s been romantically linked to Lola Ressler, a Wake Forest University soccer player he attended Montverde Academy with. They were prom king and queen in 2024, and have appeared in social media posts together, fueling speculation about a relationship.
However, neither has publicly confirmed dating. Lola, 19, is a talented midfielder who won the 2024 Florida Class 3A State Championship with Montverde and now plays for Wake Forest. She scored 10 goals and provided nine assists during her senior year at Montverde.
His mother Kelly told The New York Times that she advised Cooper to avoid serious relationships during his one year at Duke, saying “I think that’s smart. It’s safe to not have any feelings” given the short college timeline. Whether he followed that advice remains his private business.
His twin brother Ace, meanwhile, openly dates Lizzy Gruber, a 6’4″ center who transferred to the University of Maine. The contrast between Ace’s public relationship and Cooper’s privacy shows Cooper’s deliberate boundary-setting around personal matters.
Net Worth and Financial Future
Exact net worth figures are not publicly confirmed. As the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Cooper Flagg signed a four-year rookie contract worth around $62.7 million under the NBA’s rookie salary structure. His first season salary is reported at approximately $13.8 million.
In addition to his NBA contract, he has endorsement deals, including a shoe partnership with New Balance. The exact value of these deals has not been disclosed. Like most top draft picks, a large part of his income comes from salary, with additional earnings from brand partnerships. His long-term financial future will depend on performance, future contracts, and continued endorsements.
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