At just 17, Gatorade’s Youngest Star Cooper Flagg is already shaking up the basketball world—but not with his words. The Duke freshman, already touted as the potential No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, has fans and scouts buzzing. Yet, if you ask Flagg, he’s not letting it get to his head. “I’m just staying grounded,” he says, shrugging off the frenzy around him. “One practice, one game, one day at a time.” Spoken like a seasoned pro, right?
Gatorade’s Youngest Star: Can Cooper Flagg Handle the Pressure?
Flagg’s remarkable height at 6’9″ combined with his control on the court has him pegged as a future NBA superstar. Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman, an influential figure in basketball circles, even speculated that Flagg’s steady improvement and undeniable physical prowess make him a prime contender for the top draft spot. And with his high basketball IQ, fierce competitiveness, and match-winning abilities, it’s not hard to see why.
But let’s not forget the shadows looming over Flagg’s path. It’s not just smooth sailing to the top. He faces fierce competition from Rutgers stars Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, also in the race for the No. 1 draft pick. The buzz around them only fuels the fire—could these rivals dim Flagg’s spotlight?
Adding to his already towering reputation, Flagg recently scrimmaged with Team USA’s Olympic roster, becoming the first college player since 2013 to earn this honor. It’s a level of recognition reserved for seasoned players. His solid performance left NBA icons like Kevin Durant genuinely impressed. “He played like a vet,” Durant observed. Not a hint of nerves—only fierce focus.
If that’s not enough, Gatorade has taken notice too, adding Flagg to its elite roster alongside household names like Candace Parker and Jayson Tatum. He’s the first male college basketball player to secure an NIL deal with the brand—a massive leap for the young star. Flagg sees it as an honor, a chance to stand beside “those iconic names,” as he puts it. It’s no small feat to join the big leagues before even finishing his first season.
The ACC stage is set for Flagg, and Duke fans are already eyeing their March Madness brackets. With powerhouse matchups against Kentucky, Arizona, Kansas, and Auburn, the young prodigy will face immense pressure. And then there’s the ultimate rivalry showdown against North Carolina—a clash that’s practically a rite of passage at Duke.
While many would feel the weight of such high expectations, Flagg keeps his focus sharp. “I’m just looking forward to bonding with my teammates,” he says, brushing off the hype. The journey is just beginning, but the endgame is clear: another Duke banner, and perhaps, his own coronation as the best in the nation.
With so much riding on his performance, Flagg might just be that rare breed who turns every ounce of hype into fuel. Will he fulfill his destiny as the next big name in basketball? Only time will tell. But one thing’s certain—Cooper Flagg is playing for greatness.
Comments