Maine’s Cooper Flagg Gets Major Props From Celtics’ Star Jayson Tatum

The hype is very real on Cooper Flagg!

Jayson Tatum is having another great season with the Boston Celtics. They are 35-11, he has been named to another NBA all-star team as a starter, and he is in the conversation for league MVP, so when he talks hoops, people pay attention.

In a recent interview with Chad Finn of the Boston Globe, Tatum was asked about Cooper Flagg, and what makes him so special at such a young age.

He’s probably ahead of me at this age. I wasn’t nearly as athletic when I got into college. It took me a little bit longer.

I just like how he had an edge about him, a toughness. He was going at guys and trying to go at the best players and trying to block shots. I just loved how he competed.

Flagg was born in Newport, and initially attended Nokomis Regional High School. He became the first freshman to be named the Maine Gatorade Player of the Year after averaging 20.5 points, 10 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 3.7 steals, and 3.7 blocks per game. Nokomis won the Class A state championship with Flagg scoring 22 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in a 43–27 win against Falmouth High School in the state final.

Flagg transferred to Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida, at the end of his freshman year of high school.

Michigan and UCLA, were the first to offer Flagg a scholarship to play ball after high school, but he ultimately decided on Duke, which just happens to be the school that Jayson Tatum attended before turning pro.

Flagg is a crazy six feet, eight inches tall. He can shoot the ball extremely well and is super athletic. He has a nose for rebounding and has perfect timing when it comes to shot-blocking. In other words, he is the complete package, and people are taking notice.

In a mock 2025 NBA Draft from NBA Draft Room, Flagg is projected to be the #1 overall pick

Here is how they rank the Top 3 prospects:

1 Cooper Flagg PF – Duke – HT: 6-8 – WT: 200 – WING: NA – C’24 – Flagg has become the most dominant force in high school basketball. After re-classifying he’s the odds-on favorite to be the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. NBA comparison is Andrei Kirilinko, and Scottie Pippen

2 Airious “Ace” Bailey SF – Rutgers – HT: 6-9 – WT: 200 – WING: NA – C’24 – Ace has as much upside as any player in his class. Has awesome size for a wing and big-time ability. NBA comparison is TMac

3 Dylan Harper SG – Rutgers – HT: 6-5 – WT: 190 – WING: NA – C’24 – Harper plays with advanced skill and feel for the game. He isn’t an elite athlete but is a big-time offensive talent who just knows how to play and how to win. NBA comparison is James Harden.

Enjoy Cooper Flagg's freshman year at Duke, because he is a one-and-done, then it's on to NBA super-star status for years to come!