By ADAM ZAGORIA
Cooper Flagg, the Duke commit and projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, was named the 2023-24 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year on Wednesday.
Former Duke star Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic surprised him with the trophy during Flagg’s post-practice team meeting surrounded by his family, coaches and teammates..
The 6-foot-8 Flagg joins an impressive group of former Gatorade National Boys Basketball Players of the Year who have combined for more than five NBA MVPs awards, 76 All-Star appearances, 14 NBA championships, 27 NBA first round draft picks and three became Hall of Famers. Flagg was selected from more than half a million other student-athletes who play high school boys basketball nationwide.
EXCLUSIVE on @njdotcom
Cooper Flagg wasn’t born a basketball star. In fact, the nation’s top prospect was lucky to have been born at all
Thanks to @kflagg11 @flagg_ralph @Cooper_Flagg @FlaggAce for sharing their storyhttps://t.co/ek9J7DgXJl pic.twitter.com/PYm0Oy4pMv
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) February 3, 2024
Gatorade Player of the Year is the top honor in high school sports, celebrating the nation’s best high school athletes for their success on and off the playing surface. From CEOs and coaches to star athletes, Gatorade Player of the Year winners showcase the power of sport, touting an all-star group of boys basketball alumni that includes Jayson Tatum, Karl-Anthony Towns and LeBron James.
“Gatorade Player of the Year winners have become synonymous with greatness, with many athletes going on to become some of the biggest names in sport,” said Gatorade president and general manager Michael Del Pozzo. “Flagg is no different, and we look forward to seeing the impact he will make on and off the court.”
Gatorade Players of the Year are not only the best of the best in their respective sports, but they’re also leaders in the classroom and in their communities. Flagg has donated his time to charitable fundraising events for a variety of causes. Namely, Flagg’s AAU team raised funds for the Donovan Kurt Memorial Cancer Fund, and he’s also participated in a fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House Charities. He has also volunteered at youth basketball camps and clinics in both Maine and Florida.
“Cooper Flagg stands out from the crowd for his versatility, intensity and commitment to playing on both sides of the ball,” said Eric Rossi, 247 Sports Director of Basketball. “In a situation where he was the lone star player, he would put up monster scoring numbers, but his selflessness and ability to still produce at a high level on a very complete roster really stands out. He has positional versatility, size and is arguably the best defensive player in the class of 2024. Bottom line, he’s the ultimate competitor and a true winner who is very deserving of all the accolades he’s received.”
As part of Gatorade’s commitment to breaking down barriers in sport, every Player of the Year also receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner. To date, the Gatorade Player of the Year program has provided more than $4.9 million in grants to winners across more than 1,900 organizations.
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