Team USA is enthusiastic about Cooper Flagg, the 17-year-old standout at the Olympic training camp

LAS VEGAS – Cooper Flagg leaves Las Vegas as the talking point for Team USA’s now-concluded training camp.

Flagg, 17, a rising freshman at Duke and an early favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, is not part of the team headed to Paris and a possible fifth Olympic gold medal. But he was the select team’s best player and one of the most consistent players on the field during three scrimmages over the past three days against the star-studded national team.

“Cooper Flagg was incredible,” said Jim Boylen, assistant coach of both the select team and the Indiana Pacers. “He’s not afraid.”

Cooper Flagg recovers from the slam 💪

Select Team vs. National Team Scrimmage 🍿 pic.twitter.com/IXbb9vDrgK

— NBA Future Starts Now (@nbafuturenow) July 7, 2024

“He showed no fear,” said Detroit Pistons center and select team Jalen Duren. “He came and worked hard every day. You’d think he’d already be there, you know what I mean?

Jaime Jaquez Jr., a select team player who also plays for the Miami Heat, added Jaime Jaquez Jr. added: “Coop was playing crazy.”

“He wants it, you see how much he wants it,” said Devin Booker of the US national team.

That was just a sample.

A final point total for Flagg was not immediately available, but U.S. coaches and executives estimated Flagg scored between 14 and 17 points in a narrow 74-73 loss to Team USA on Monday. And in the portion of the scrimmage open to the media, Flagg drained a corner 3 and then executed a daring putback over the U.S. defense to put the selected team ahead 69-68 with less than 2 minutes remaining . Flagg missed the ensuing free throw.

Team USA won thanks to consecutive 3s from Booker and then Jrue Holiday (who was tasked with guarding Flagg — a compliment to the Duke freshman because Holiday is one of the best defenders in the NBA). Anthony Davis knocked away Brandin Podziemski’s potential game-winning shot at the buzzer.

One of Flagg’s 3s came against Davis, which Jaquez said was retaliation for a block Davis registered on Flagg during Sunday’s scrimmage.

“Today he came right back and punched him in the face,” Jaquez said. “Right after that he got the and-1 putback, so those couple plays, and he got a steal there. He was incredible today.”

Cooper Flagg confidently rises from 3rd place vs. #USABMNT! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/Ub9vMo6Eit

— NBA Future Starts Now (@nbafuturenow) July 8, 2024

Flagg, a 6-foot-4 forward, is the first college player to participate in a Team USA training camp since Marcus Smart and Doug McDermott in 2013. He isn’t the first select team player to disrupt an American training camp by shining as brightly as the team of stars. For example, last year Cade Cunningham received similar reviews.

But Cunningham had already been in the NBA for two seasons, and one of the reasons his select team stint received so much praise was because he suffered a knee injury that cost him most of his second season in Detroit.

Flagg is, well, not old enough to vote. But his competitiveness belies his youth.

“I just think he has a competitive fire, and he’s not afraid of anyone and he’s going to come at you,” said Trayce Jackson-Davis, the 24-year-old Golden State Warriors big man who spent his rookie season behind the has a back. . “You need that as a player. And if you are already like that, and you are 17, then the sky is the limit.”

The select team was dismissed after Monday’s training as the national team will have a walk-through on Tuesday and play Canada in a friendly in Las Vegas on Wednesday night before flying to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Duke coach Jon Scheyer and two of his assistants were in Las Vegas to watch Flagg, as were Flagg’s parents.

Flagg was part of the U.S. Under-17 team that won gold at the 2022 World Cup. This past season, as a senior at Montverde Academy in Florida, he was the Gatorade and Naismith Boys’ Major League National Player of the Year . school.

They’re all lofty accolades, but not quite the same as competing against NBA champions, Olympic gold medalists and all-time leading scorers.

“Once the ball goes up, I always try to win,” Flagg said, explaining why he was unimpressed by his surroundings in Las Vegas despite his age. “I’m just a competitor, and that’s what it comes down to. It takes some getting used to being on the court with them, but at the same time I just play basketball and try to learn.”

Cooper Flagg sinks the nice turnaround jersey!

Select Team vs. National Team Scrimmage 🍿 pic.twitter.com/TF3DX9VLa1

— NBA Future Starts Now (@nbafuturenow) July 8, 2024

In numerous interviews, U.S. employees and select team players spoke about Flagg’s skills and scale. But also his mental capabilities.

“He has a confidence that he’s not afraid of moments, and I think that’s big for young kids, especially someone his age,” said Select Team and Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley.

Langston Galloway, a former NBA player and former US basketball player who serves as a practice player for the national team, immediately became a fan of Flagg’s game.

“I’m not even impressed with the scoring and all that; I’m more impressed with his poise,” Galloway said. “He doesn’t try to force it, like, ‘Now it’s my turn.’ Let me try to get a shot.” He’s trying to make plays. You can see he understands the game. Step into the paint, everyone collapses and makes the right reads. So that’s the most impressive part of it: that a 17-year-old can understand the game.”

Boylen, a former head coach in the NBA as well as a former coach of U.S. teams, said Flagg would be an excellent player on the international stage. After this summer, the national men’s team will not return to action until the 2027 World Cup in Qatar and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

By the time the next Olympics roll around, Flagg will likely have three years of NBA service under his belt.

“He has versatility, he has position size, he is a smart player and he embraces contact,” Boylen said.

Flagg confirmed he is interested in a World Cup appearance in three years if his game continues to develop.

“That’s something I’m striving for, just trying to be as good as I can and if I can achieve that and then make the World Cup team in two years, I mean, that’s another goal on my list,” Flagg said . “I just work and try to get better every day.”

LeBron x Cooper Flagg🤝

Select Team vs. National team #USABMNT pic.twitter.com/OoYRIKQdtt

— NBA (@NBA) July 7, 2024

Galloway came away from the Flagg experience understanding why experts say Flagg will go first in the next NBA Draft.

“I think today was a confirmation (showing) where he will be next year,” Galloway said. “This year he’s at Duke. But next year you will see where he will be.”

Required reading

(Photo of LeBron James and Cooper Flagg: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)