Cooper Flagg wows throughout skirmish versus USA Olympic Team

Cooper Flagg looked like a male among guys for the USA Schoose Team throughout its skirmish versus Team USA.

In reality, the opposite is real. Flagg is a kid among males, and though he has a manlike strength and ability set, the young gamer is simply 17 years old. 

But Cooper Flagg is unlike most 17-year-olds. At 6-foot-9, 205 pounds, Flagg’s stature is currently similar to an NBAer’s. The agreement No. 1 hire in the Class of 2024, Flagg is set to signupwith Duke next season and is forecasted to be the No. 1 total choice in the 2025 NBA Draft. 

And for excellent factor. Flagg’s athleticism and shot-making capability is elite, and he has the length, intangibles and work principles to establish into an All-Star quality gamer. He got his veryfirst taste of All-Star level competitors Monday, almost leading the Select Team to a win versus Team USA in a head-turning efficiency.

Flagg’s skill was on complete screen throughout the 74-73 loss. He sized up Anthony Davis near the right hash mark before increasing up for a stone-cold 3-tip over the 6-foot-11 huge male. He got hectic in the post, striking a turn-around jumper over Jrue Holiday. He tossed in hard putback lay-up over Bam Adebayo. 

His ability has neverever been in concern. Flagg is a 2024 McDonald’s American and has loads of USA Basketball experience, consistingof a area on the 2022 FIBA Under-17 group, while he won the 2024 Nike Hoop Summit as a member of Team USA.

But the grace and self-confidence to program out versus the world’s finest shows a uncommon capability that might make Flagg a future fantastic. And after the efficiency, one NBA coach verified that no gamer on the team was muchbetter than Flagg. All of his colleagues on the USA Schoose Team — consistingof Brandin Podziemski, Amen Thompson, Brandon Miller and Jalen Duren — have played at least one season in the NBA. 

“He kicked butt here,” Select group coach Jamahl Mosley stated. “There’s a regard aspect for what he’s done. People who have not seen him play, as he gets himself going within the videogame, they rapidly see what he can do.”

For Flagg, who is the veryfirst college gamer to be chosen to the Select group because Marcus Smart and Doug McDermott were welcomed to camp in 2013, there’s still a kid-like awe of the minute. 

“I was surprised, I was amazed, and I was actually delighted for this chance,” Flagg stated after hearing that he was chosen. Flagg was the veryfirst gamer the choice committee reached out to throughout its procedure. “And I’m simply actually blessed that I was able to come out and capitalize on it and program what I have. I was actually grateful to come out and discover. That was the greatest thing for me, simply being able to findout and grow, to share a healthclub with all of these excellent, excellent names. Legends. So, I’m simply genuinely blessed.”

Despite his surprise, he made the most of the chance to play versus the greats with self-confidence.

“I’m positive in my capability and my ability,” he stated after the skirmish. “At the end of the day, I’m positive in who I am and what I can do, so I’m simply coming out to play basketball.”

His capability to separate the videogame is part of what makes him such an appealing possibility. And it doesn’t hurt to get recommendations from some of the finest to ever do it, consistingof LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry.

“They’ve all simply been quite inviting,” Flagg stated. “The Select group, they’re pleased of us being here, and kind of getting them allset, tailoring up. So it’s all simply inviting, they’re simply informing me to keep working and stay grounded.”

Flagg included that if the USA group can discover its chemistry, it will be unstoppable at the Olympics.

“They can be whatever group they desire to be,” he stated. “They have no weakpoints, no holes. They can play any type of method and control. So it’s going to be a dominant group that asserts their will on everyone they see.”

Flagg himself is utilizing what he’s knowing from the minicamp chance to assistance him endedupbeing an unstoppable force at the professional level. But veryfirst, some college classes for the 17-year-old.

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