ARE GETTING PUMPED FOR WHAT’S COMING NEXT. CAMERON LOBLEY STOPPED BY NEWPORT TO SEE HOW THEY’RE FEELING. IT’S BEEN QUITE THE JOURNEY FOR COOPER FLAGG.. FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS HERE IN MAINE, TO WHAT’S VERY LIKELY A TOP SPOT IN THE N-B-A DRAFT. “IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE YEAR, PROBABLY THE BEST YEAR OF MY LIFE…” TODAY THE DUKE SUPERSTAR FRESHMAN TOOK TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO LET FANS KNOW THAT THE NEXT BIG STEP IN HIS CAREER IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. “DUKE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A DREAM FOR ME, BUT I’M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT I WILL BE ENTERING MY NAME INTO THE 2025 NBA DRAFT.” AND THE NEWS DOESN’T JUST HAVE FANS EXCITED, THOSE FROM HIS NEWPORT MAINE HOMETOWN SAY THAT SEEING THE NOKOMIS HIGH SCHOOL ALUM MAKE IT THIS FAR IS KEEPING THE HYPE TRAIN ROLLING. “HAVING SOMEBODY LIKE WE WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH AND GREW UP WITH IT’S KIND OF COOL THAT THEY’RE GOING TO THE NBA.” “IT’S TERRIFIC, AND MAYBE THEY’LL NAME THE ROTARY AFTER HIM!” PRIOR TO HIS COLLEGE CAREER, FLAGG MADE HIS MARK ON NEWPORT BY LEADING NOKOMIS HIGH BASKETBALL TO ITS FIRST STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. AND IN JUST ONE YEAR, FLAGG’S LEFT A SIMILAR IMPRESSION ON DUKE, HELPING SECURE A SPOT IN THE NCAA FINAL FOUR FOR THE BLUE DEVILS. SOME ARE A LITTLE SURPRISED TO SEE FLAGG TAKE THE LEAP THIS EARLY INTO HIS COLLEGE CAREER. “JUST SEEMS THAT MAYBE IF HE JUST STAYED IN DUKE ANOTHER YEAR, HE MIGHT HAVE WON A CHAMPIONSHIP” BUT OTHERS SAY THE TALENT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. “WE ALL KNEW ONCE HE STARTED TO REALLY BLOSSOM HIS LIKE SIXTH, SEVENTH, EIGHTH GRADE YEAR. THE MORE PEOPLE LOOKING AT HIM, WE KNEW THAT HE WAS GOING PLACES.” NOW THE QUESTION REMAINS – WHERE DOES FLAGG GO NEXT? YOU CAN CATCH THE FIRST ROUND OF THE N-B-A DRAFT WEDNESDAY JUNE 25TH RIGHT HERE ON CHANNEL EIGHT. IN NEWPORT, CAMERON LOBLEY FOR MAINE’S TOTAL COVERAGE. COOPER FLAGG IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN COLLEGE BASKETBALL BUT HOW DID HE BECOME A SUPERSTAR? RIGHT NOW ON OUR WEBSITE.. WE ARE WALKING YOU THROUGH HIS CAREER

Cooper Flagg heading to NBA draft combine: Here’s what the Maine native will be doing

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Updated: 4:35 PM EDT May 6, 2025

Maine native Cooper Flagg declared for the NBA draft two weeks ago and will soon be taking part in the NBA draft combine.The 18-year-old basketball phenom from Newport has been working out in California and is traveling to Chicago this weekend for the combine, which begins Sunday.Flagg is one of 75 players who was invited to the draft combine. As set forth in the NBA collective bargaining agreement, all players who are invited to the draft combine are required to attend.Maine’s Total Coverage has learned Flagg will not take part in the 5-on-5 scrimmages at the combine, which is common for most players projected to be picked at the top of the NBA draft.Flagg, however, will take part in strength and agility testing, shooting drills and performance testing. He will also undergo a medical examination and share his medical history with NBA teams. In addition, Flagg will have his height, weight, wingspan, standing reach, hand length and hand width measured at the combine.While at the combine, Flagg will also be available for team interviews, media sessions and player development sessions.On the second day of the combine, which lasts through May 18, the NBA will hold the draft lottery to determine which team will end up with the No. 1 overall pick and likely select Flagg.Flagg is a month removed from the end of his freshman collegiate season, during which he led Duke University to the Final Four while winning a handful of National Player of the Year awards.He led Duke with averages of 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals per game and was named a consensus All-American. He won the Naismith Trophy, Wooden Award, AP Player of the Year Award, Oscar Robertson Trophy and NABC Division I Player of the Year award.Flagg also won Freshman of the Year from the NABC and the Wayman Tisdale Trophy, which is awarded to the national freshman of the year by the USBWA. In addition, he won the Julius Erving Award, which is presented by the Basketball Hall of Fame to the best small forward in the country.He was also named the ACC’s Player and Rookie of the Year. He finished second for the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award and was named to the All-ACC First Team, ACC All-Defensive Team and ACC All-Rookie Team.Flagg starred in the NCAA Tournament, averaging 21.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.0 blocks in Duke’s five games. After the Blue Devils won in the Elite Eight, Flagg was named the Most Outstanding Player of the East Region. He was also selected for the All-Tournament Team, becoming only the fifth player in the 21st century to earn that distinction without playing in the national title game.The first round of the 2025 NBA draft will be broadcast on WMTW Channel 8 on Wednesday, June 25.

PORTLAND, Maine —

Maine native Cooper Flagg declared for the NBA draft two weeks ago and will soon be taking part in the NBA draft combine.

The 18-year-old basketball phenom from Newport has been working out in California and is traveling to Chicago this weekend for the combine, which begins Sunday.

Flagg is one of 75 players who was invited to the draft combine. As set forth in the NBA collective bargaining agreement, all players who are invited to the draft combine are required to attend.

Maine’s Total Coverage has learned Flagg will not take part in the 5-on-5 scrimmages at the combine, which is common for most players projected to be picked at the top of the NBA draft.

Flagg, however, will take part in strength and agility testing, shooting drills and performance testing. He will also undergo a medical examination and share his medical history with NBA teams. In addition, Flagg will have his height, weight, wingspan, standing reach, hand length and hand width measured at the combine.

While at the combine, Flagg will also be available for team interviews, media sessions and player development sessions.

On the second day of the combine, which lasts through May 18, the NBA will hold the draft lottery to determine which team will end up with the No. 1 overall pick and likely select Flagg.

Flagg is a month removed from the end of his freshman collegiate season, during which he led Duke University to the Final Four while winning a handful of National Player of the Year awards.

He led Duke with averages of 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals per game and was named a consensus All-American. He won the Naismith Trophy, Wooden Award, AP Player of the Year Award, Oscar Robertson Trophy and NABC Division I Player of the Year award.

Flagg also won Freshman of the Year from the NABC and the Wayman Tisdale Trophy, which is awarded to the national freshman of the year by the USBWA. In addition, he won the Julius Erving Award, which is presented by the Basketball Hall of Fame to the best small forward in the country.

He was also named the ACC’s Player and Rookie of the Year. He finished second for the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award and was named to the All-ACC First Team, ACC All-Defensive Team and ACC All-Rookie Team.

Flagg starred in the NCAA Tournament, averaging 21.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.0 blocks in Duke’s five games. After the Blue Devils won in the Elite Eight, Flagg was named the Most Outstanding Player of the East Region. He was also selected for the All-Tournament Team, becoming only the fifth player in the 21st century to earn that distinction without playing in the national title game.

The first round of the 2025 NBA draft will be broadcast on WMTW Channel 8 on Wednesday, June 25.