Cooper Flagg: New England's Next Big Basketball Star, Poised to Go #1 in the NBA Draft

Maine’s Cooper Flagg is bound for the bright lights of the NBA.

The next “IT” basketball phenomenon, and it isn’t event close, is a 6’9” forward from the great state of Maine and he is taking the NCAA Tournament by storm. How cool is that?

Cooper Flagg, who hails from Newport, ME, is currently leading the number one seed Duke Blue Devils deep into the March madness and he is doing it with style. Flagg, who averaged 19 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game during the regular season, erupted for 30 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists in the Sweet Sixteen round of the tournament against a tough Arizona Wildcats team.

Flagg was the country’s number one recruit coming out of high school and he was already a viral social media star, as clips of his highlights were circulating social media with fervor well before he stepped foot on campus at Duke.

The question now is where will Flagg’s draft prospects lead him this summer. There is no question that Flagg will be the first player taken in June’s NBA draft. Brian Scalabrine, the beloved Boston Celtics broadcaster and NBA Champion, has been predicting Flaggs tremendous prospects well before Flagg’s otherworldly talents were a lead topic on every basketball podcast. However, Scalabrine and all of Flagg’s fans can now only wager guesses at which of the NBA’s dregs will win the draft lottery May 12th.

In a region known more for its icy winters and outdoor recreation than for producing basketball phenoms, Cooper stands out as a beacon of New England talent. He’s a testament to the hard work and dedication it takes to rise to the top, even when you’re far removed from the bigger, more competitive programs and scouting networks of other regions. His success is a proud moment for basketball fans in Maine and all throughout New England, showing that talent can come from anywhere.