PORTLAND, Maine — Maine native and top high school basketball prospect Cooper Flagg recently got a big compliment from NBA star Kevin Durant.
Durant, a two-time NBA champion and former Most Valuable Player who's currently 10th on the NBA's all-time scoring list, said he believes Flagg could be "one of the top players in the league for 15 years."
Durant made the comment on his "Boardroom" talk show after his longtime business partner Rich Kleiman asked him his thoughts on Flagg.
"The intangibles he has, his measurables, and his raw talent — I could see that through the TV," Durant said. "When you're 6'10" and can run up and down the floor like that and got the instincts with the basketball like that ... If you show up every day and be the best that you can be, I think Cooper Flagg could be one of the top players in the league for 15 years."
Flagg is the top-ranked high school basketball player in the country and recently committed to attending Duke University next season. He's widely projected to be the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Flagg currently plays at Montverde Academy in Florida, but he's from Newport, Maine. He and his twin brother, Ace, transferred to Montverde after playing for Nokomis Regional High School their freshman year. Their mom, Kelly Flagg, is a former captain of the University of Maine women's basketball team.