Myron Medcalf , ESPN Writer Oct 29, 2024, 1:41pm ET
Close Covers College Basketball Joined ESPN.com in 2011 Graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato
Cooper Flagg was used to the national spotlight at this point.
The 17-year-old is Duke’s next college basketball star and the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft by ESPN. Now, he can add a Gatorade sponsorship to his list of accomplishments as the 6-foot-9 phenom becomes the first men’s college basketball player to sign with the brand, the company announced Tuesday.
Flagg said he is committed to keeping his circle tight as the buzz and opportunity around him continues to grow.
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“It’s just about trying to stay grounded and stay where my feet are and focus on the present and where I’m at,” Flagg told ESPN in a conversation about his Gatorade sponsorship and his first season as a college basketball star. “Whether it’s focusing on a training day or a class…whatever I’m doing, I just try to stay present and just focus on the present moment.”
With Gatorade, he will join Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins as other college basketball stars associated with the brand.
Flagg’s popularity grew over the summer after he had an impressive performance in a scrimmage against the men’s national team before the Paris Olympics. This performance prompted LeBron James to tell Esquire that the five-star player will be one of the next faces in the NBA once he arrives. Flagg said that experience with the national team helped him gain wisdom from some of the best players in the world.
“I would say some of the biggest advice was just stay humble and keep working,” Flagg said. “It’s just about staying grounded and not getting ahead of yourself.”
He said he also cherishes his relationship with James.
“There was nothing really specific [James] He said, [but] “Obviously he’s someone who’s had such success and everything he’s done in his career, it’s great just to talk to him.”
Rare sports flag. He has the size of a power forward but plays as an explosive guard, cutting to the rim and scoring all over the court. He’s one of the most versatile college basketball players since Zion Williamson.
Cooper Flagg, Duke’s next star and the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, has signed with Gatorade, becoming the first men’s basketball player to sign with the brand. Lance King/Getty Images
Flagg said he doesn’t have a single player at the next level that he tries to emulate, but former Duke star Jayson Tatum has had an impact on his game.
“There is no specific person that I primarily focused on designing my game after,” he said. “But I would say [Tatum] It would be a good example for [someone]. I’ve watched it a lot. “Not necessarily as a model, or a model for my playing style, but having watched him a lot, there are definitely things I can pick up and take away from his game.”
Flagg said he’s still amazed by some of the accolades and opportunities he received. He said he wouldn’t have believed anyone if they told him he would one day become one of the most popular players in the game, sponsored by Gatorade, when he was a kid in Maine.
“I mean, I probably would have told you you were lying,” he said. “I definitely think, growing up, that’s something I had to deal with. A lot of people were telling me, ‘I’m just going to be a kid from Maine. I’m going to play basketball at Maine.’ So, I think through that, maybe I would think you’re lying, but I always… I didn’t have my self-confidence at the same time.
He said he’s excited for the upcoming season, which will include a number of nationally televised appearances including Duke’s matchup against Kentucky in the Tournament of Champions Classic and a meeting with No. 1 Kansas in Las Vegas during Thanksgiving week.
He said his family, friends and colleagues have helped him deal with everything that has come his way so far.
“I think my parents definitely played a big role in that,” he said. “Obviously my teammates, being around every day, definitely helped me stay focused. And then my friends. [childhood] Friends I talk to almost every day. They help keep me grounded, keep me in the moment.”
