Newport native and basketball phenom Cooper Flagg had his official visit to Duke this weekend, a month after taking his only other official visit to the University of Connecticut.
Now, all Mainers can do is stay vigilant and wait for the 16-year-old’s monumental college decision, which is potentially right around the corner.
“I would expect he will decide after the Duke visit in a reasonably short period,” Montverde Academy head coach Kevin Boyle told The Messenger earlier this month.
Flagg’s decision will influence the landscape of college basketball until at least 2025, even though he’ll likely only play one year of college ball before heading to the pros. As the No. 1 prospect nationwide, Flagg received offers from the most prestigious names in college basketball, including Kansas, Villanova, Michigan and UCLA, in addition to reigning national champion UConn and the legendary Duke.
“He’s seen both campuses and talked enough to both staffs that he can make a decision. He’s not looking for more attention. Let’s be honest, he’s getting enough of it already,” Boyle said. Cooper and his twin brother Ace transferred to his program at the elite prep school in Florida after a state championship freshman season at Nokomis in 2021-22.
Others close to Flagg have said similar things in regard to his approach to the college recruitment process. He seems to be locked in on having a productive, enjoyable final year of high school basketball.
“Unless he’s unbelievably confused, I’m pretty sure he’s going to make a decision very quickly after he visits Duke,” Cooper’s mother and his Maine United AAU assistant coach Kelly Flagg told The Messenger. “That way, he can put it behind him and focus on what he needs to do to get better.”
It’s still unclear where Cooper is leaning, and there is evidence for both sides.
Rumors of Flagg’s interest in Duke first materialized his freshman year, when he called it his “dream school.” Moreover, Flagg would have the privilege of joining two other five-star recruits in Isaiah Evans and Kon Knueppel his freshman year at Duke.
But Flagg also had a great visit to UConn, in which he resonated with head coach Dan Hurley and his staff, as well as the campus’ surrounding area.
“He really enjoyed his visit, and loved watching how they are doing things in practice,” Maine Basketball Hall of Famer and Maine United head coach Andy Bedard said.
Andy’s son Kaden plays basketball at Montverde along with Cooper and Ace, all of whom are good friends. Bedard works and lives in the Montverde area, and is in close touch with the Flaggs.
“It’s all about the basketball for Cooper, that’s just how he’s wired,” Bedard said. “He also liked that UConn’s campus was off the beaten path. It felt like home.”
Duke is the favorite to lock down a commitment from Flagg, according to sports media outlet 247Sports, which added that Cooper has no exact timeframe for his decision.
“I think I am just going to take my time and think about it, and make a decision when I feel ready. I don’t really have a timeframe yet,” Flagg said in an Oct. 14 interview with 247Sports analyst Travis Branham.
Flagg will likely make his verbal commitment before the NCAA’s early signing period between Nov. 8-15. Otherwise he will have to wait until the regular signing period of Apr. 17-May 15, 2024, to sign his national letter of intent.
