Cooper Flagg, Teen Basketball Sensation, Isn’t Feeling Starstruck Yet

For most American teenagers, the summer after high school graduation is all about having a good time. But for 17-year-old Cooper Flagg, who will soon become perhaps the biggest men’s college basketball star since fellow Duke legend Zion Williamson, the final days of childhood won’t exactly be spent driving around his hometown soaking up memories with friends and family. Instead, Flagg has been balling. The youngest participant in Team USA basketball practices, Flagg has already earned kudos from the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, and Jayson Tatum for his performance against the squad that America will send to the upcoming Olympics. Again, this dude is 17, and he didn’t look scared at all going against some of the best players in the world.

Last week, the kid from Newport, Maine was named the Gatorade Best Male Player of the Year—previously given to guys like LeBron James and Jayson Tatum—distinguishing him as the best male high school athlete in the nation. “The list of former Gatorade Best Players of the Year speaks for itself,” Flagg said. “It’s special to put my name next to theirs.”

Between the scrimmage heard ‘round the world and his appearance at last week’s ESPY Awards, Flagg took a breather to chat with GQ. He knows that several NBA front offices will not-so-secretly be praying their team is bad enough to draft him next summer, and also that the vitriol he’ll get at Duke will be through the roof. But for Flagg, who left his high school in Maine after freshman year to enroll at athletic powerhouse Montverde Academy in Florida, that’s all the cost of being the best.

How’s the summer been?

It’s been great! I’m coming off a long high school season—I think we played close to 40 games—so I got a little down time now. Spent a little time with my family, took a vacation in Cancun, then I’ve just been in the gym doing skill work. I got to Duke, got to meet all my teammates and started summer workouts. It’s been really good to kick things off out there and prepare for the season. It’s time to ramp it back up and start preparing more and more. It’s a long road ahead. Getting my body right, getting my mentals right, just being prepared.

Did you have prom and graduation and all that? Or does that go out the window once you transfer to a prep school like Montverde?

We still had prom and graduation. It’s a pretty normal experience, it was just a new environment being away from home and making new friends.

There were a lot of differences in terms of how the school was run, the rules, certain standards. But it was a great transition for me. I felt like I definitely made the right choice in going there. I had a great two years, and I’m really blessed to have the resources and opportunities that they provide there.

How did you get the news that you had been named Gatorade’s Best Basketball Player of the Year?

We had finished Montverde practice, and then Paolo Banchero from the Magic came to our gym. He brought the trophy out after practice and surprised me.

You didn’t know this was happening?

I didn’t.

Was being the Gatorade Player of the Year an active goal for you during the season?

I didn’t really think about any of the awards. It definitely crossed my mind a couple times, but I was never actively thinking, I have to win this. I was just playing my game. But it was really cool. I was kind of shocked. I wasn’t really expecting it at all. It was a great experience to share that moment with my teammates.

After you won, did you look at the list of people who have won it before you? It’s a lot of superstars!

Oh yeah, for sure. Reading through the list of names on the trophy, it shows what type of company you’ve joined once you’ve won that award. It’s really cool.

For sure, I kind of grew up on Gatorade. It’s what we always had in our family. I definitely like it a lot. Yellow is my favorite flavor.

Yeah, he was at our celebration. It was cool, a really good environment, a lot of energy. It’s cool to be in that environment with other athletes from different sports and build a relationship. It was a really good time.