ORONO, Maine — Maine basketball stars Cooper and Ace Flagg returned to their home state Saturday to lead a kids' basketball camp at the University of Maine.
The twin brothers, who are from Newport, won a championship with Nokomis Regional High School their freshman year before transferring to Montverde Academy in Florida.
On Saturday, Cooper and Ace Flagg made the trip home to coach the next generation of basketball players in Maine.
"I think it's really important to just to give back to the community that we came from," Cooper said.
Kids in grades 1-6 got the chance to learn the ropes from Cooper and Ace, playing games, doing contests, and even going head-to-head with the brothers.
"My favorite part was playing 1v1 against Cooper," one participant said.
A highlight for many was learning, two kids told NEWS CENTER Maine.
Ace will be finishing up his last year of high school basketball at Greensboro Day School in North Carolina.
Ace said he remembers how much fun he had at basketball camps growing up and wanted these kids to feel that same joy.
"Just to know that you've helped these young kids and helped them in their process, just means the world to me," Ace said.
Cooper will be playing basketball at Duke University this fall.
After many recognitions including the Naismith High School Player of the Year, he's widely projected to be the No. 1 pick in next year's NBA draft.
Cooper said the clinic was a great opportunity to mentor young players from Maine.
"I mean, it's been great to see all the kids and see how their faces kind of light up with smiles and stuff like that," he said. "It's just been great to interact and talk to the next generation."
For Ace and Cooper, inspiring Maine's future players is a slam dunk. They shared some advice for young players on how to shoot for the stars.
"Just never give up. If you want something, you can always make it happen. You just got to go fight for it and work every day," Ace said.
Cooper added, "If you really want it bad enough, you just got to work really hard and put something into it every day, and just try to get better every day."
Cooper will be making his collegiate debut with Duke on Nov. 4 and he'll be getting another taste of home. The Blue Devils will be facing the University of Maine Black Bears.