Cooper Flagg, a 17-year-old Duke freshman, left an indelible impression on Team USA during their training camp scrimmages in Las Vegas. Despite not being part of the Olympic team headed for Paris, Flagg stood out as the best player on the select team and one of the most consistent performers against NBA stars.
Flagg's impressive performance began with his competitiveness, which belied his youth. He held his own against some of the best defenders in the league, including Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday, and Bam Adebayo. Flagg's confidence was evident as he took on these NBA veterans without fear.
Flagg's basketball IQ shone through during scrimmages. He led Montverde Academy to a 30-0 record and a national title, took part in the Nike Hoop Summit and other high school all-star games, chose Duke over UConn, was USA Basketball's male athlete of the year in 2022 after leading the Americans to gold at the U17 World Cup, and was named Gatorade player of the year, Naismith player of the year, and a McDonald's All American in his final high school season.
Flagg's accomplishments extended beyond his impressive resume. During practice sessions that were not specifically mentioned in other articles, he made a 3-pointer over Anthony Davis and had a putback plus an and-one over Bam Adebayo. He also connected on another 3-pointer against Davis and hit a short turnaround jumper over Jrue Holiday.
Olympians praised Flagg for his determination, basketball IQ, and ability to hold his own against NBA stars. His performance at Team USA training camp solidified his status as the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.