Cooper Flagg, an incoming sophomore transfer at Montverde Academy, might already be the best player in high school basketball.
Last season, before transferring to Montverde, Flagg became the first freshman named Gatorade Maine Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Earlier this summer, the 6-foot-8 forward helped Team USA win the gold medal at the FIBA U17 World Cup. They won each game by an average of 40 points.
Flagg averaged 9.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game while in Spain. But when adjusting for playing time, per Cerbero Sports, the numbers are just absurd. He somehow recorded 20.4 rebounds, 5.8 blocks, and 5.0 steals per 40 minutes during the tournament.
The more advanced numbers on Synergy, meanwhile, are comparably hilarious. According to the data, when Flagg was the nearest defender on jump shots, opponents were just 2-for-19 (10.5 percent) from the field. When he defended his man in isolation, he forced turnovers more often than he allowed a score.
When you watch footage of him representing his country, Flagg looks two years older than everyone, not the other way around. Jonathan Givony shared a detailed scouting report on his game (via ESPN):
“Besides playing with an insatiable energy level, Flagg displays uncanny basketball instincts with the spatial awareness, processing speed and timing he shows rotating for blocks, staying in front of guards on switches, and always being the first off the ground for loose balls. Considering the level of competition he had played up to this point, several NBA executives in attendance said they were shocked by Flagg’s temperament, knowledge of the game and ability to make an impact without needing a single play called for him, something that bodes incredibly well for his long-term outlook.”
Then, earlier this week, while playing for his AAU squad on the Nike EYBL Flagg followed up that impressive performance by potentially recording a quadruple-double … with blocks and steals.
Watch some of those disruptive highlights and your jaw will drop to the floor. After one of his estimated twelve blocks, Flagg took the ball up the court and then scored at the basket in transition.
Flagg, who calls Duke his dream school, is a prospect worth knowing.
The Tip-Off
I looked at each team in the league and assigned them a grade based on how they performed this offseason. Let’s start from the top!
“GRADE FOR ATLANTA HAWKS: A
I’m a fan of Atlanta’s offseason, especially because they added Dejounte Murray without giving up any of their core assets.
The former San Antonio guard is a lengthy, defense-first All-Star who made significant improvements as an on-ball scorer and playmaker last season. The Hawks desperately needed the help he will bring on defense, but I also like that it can allow Trae Young to show more of what he can do playing off the ball.”
You can check out my full list, to see how I graded your favorite team, by clicking here.
Shootaround
— James Harden said he “wasn’t right” last season. That’s music to the ears of Sixers bettors
— Rookie of the Year Odds Watch: Keegan Murray, Nikola Jovic on the rise
— Rookie Wire’s Cody Taylor looks at the top standouts from NBA Summer League in Las Vegas
— Celtics Wire’s Justin Quinn wonders if Boston has the deepest roster in the NBA
