“It's gonna be a cool environment” - Cooper Flagg expresses excitement about playing with USA Basketball’s Select Team

Cooper Flagg became the first college player since Marcus Smart and Doug McDermott in 2013 to get a call to be in the Select Team. Flagg and his teammates will take on Team USA as they train for the Paris Olympics later this month.

The incoming Duke freshman is playing against some NBA greats like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and others. Talking about the experience, Cooper Flagg said:

"It's been a great experience being able to learn, talk and see what their routine and see what some of these guys do. It's been great to be able to learn."

And when asked who he was looking forward to playing against, Flagg responded.

"I think everybody. Everybody on that team, like growing up as a kid is somebody I've looked up to and seen as somebody I want to be someday, like the position they're in. So, it's gonna be a cool environment to (gain) experience from it."

In another interview with ESPN, Cooper Flagg revealed that he was shocked to receive the official call from Team USA Director Grant Hill.

"I was pretty surprised just because it's not like a normal thing. So I was definitely really honored and just excited that I had this opportunity.

"If you think about it, you're able to learn from ... if you look at their team, it's nobody better. So it's just being come out here and learn, this is a great experience and I'm really just humbled and I'm really grateful and blessed that I was selected."

Flagg is the No. 1-ranked prospect in the 2024 class. He averaged 16.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.7 blocks and 1.6 steals in his senior year of high school as he led Montverde to a perfect 31-0 record.

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It's business as usual for Cooper Flagg once the ball went up

Despite initially being star-struck, Cooper Flagg realized that he was in the Las Vegas camp to play and immediately switched to his player mode. Videos of Flagg going up against Curry and Anthony Edwards quickly made their way onto the internet and fans were impressed with the young forward's skills.

"At first I was a little bit blown away when I first walked up here," Flagg said, "but then once the ball went up, it's basketball to me at the end of the day. We're all really good players, and I've always looked up to everybody on that team. But once we started playing, it was just competing."

Flagg will join the Duke Blue Devils this fall and is expected to be a one-and-done player. He is already predicted as a top pick in the 2025 NBA draft with fans showing interest in his playing style.

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