Rising Duke freshman Cooper Flagg signs deal with Gatorade

Cooper Flagg is used to being in the national spotlight at this point.

The 17-year-old is Duke's next college basketball star and the projected No. 1 pick in ESPN's 2025 NBA Draft. Now he can add the Gatorade sponsorship to his list of achievements, as the 6-foot-2 phenom became the first men's college basketball player to sign with the brand, the company announced Tuesday.

Flagg said he strives to keep his circle tight as the excitement — and opportunities — grow around him.

“It just comes down to just staying grounded and staying where my feet are and focusing on the present and the place where I am,” Flagg told ESPN in a conversation about his Gatorade sponsorship and his first season as a college basketball star. “Whether it's focusing on a day where we're practicing, having class… Whatever I'm doing, I just try to stay present and really just focus on the moment.”

With Gatorade, he will join Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins among the brand's other college basketball stars.

Flagg's popularity grew over the summer after he performed impressively in a scrimmage against the men's national team before the Paris Olympics. That performance prompted LeBron James to tell Esquire that the five-star prospect will be one of the next faces of the NBA upon his arrival. That experience with the national team, Flagg said, helped him gain wisdom from some of the best players in the world.

“I would say one of the biggest pieces of advice was to just stay humble and keep working,” Flagg said. “It’s really just about staying grounded and not getting too ahead of yourself.”

He said he also valued his relationship with James.

“It wasn't anything really specific that (James) said, (but) obviously someone with this success and everything he's done in his career is just cool to talk to.”

Flagg is a rare athlete. He has the size of a power forward but plays like an explosive guard, driving to the rim and scoring from all over the court. He is one of the most versatile college basketball players since Zion Williamson.

Flagg said he doesn't have a player at the next level he wants to emulate, but former Duke star Jayson Tatum has influenced his game.

“There’s no one I’ve primarily focused on in shaping my game,” he said. “But I would say (Tatum) would be a good example for (someone). I watched him often. Not necessarily as a model to model my game, but just from watching him a lot, there are definitely things that I can relate to his game and take from it.”

Flagg said he is still overwhelmed by some of the awards and opportunities he has received. He said he wouldn't have believed anyone if he had said as a kid in Maine that he would one day become one of the most touted players in the game, with a Gatorade sponsorship.

“I mean, I probably would have told you you were lying,” he said. “I think it’s certainly something I’ve had to deal with as an adult. A lot of people told me I was just a kid from Maine. I would just play basketball in Maine. So, I guess. “When I was going through that, I probably would have thought you were lying, but at the same time, I always kind of had my own confidence.”

He said he is looking forward to the upcoming season, which will include a series of nationally televised showcases, including Duke's matchup against Kentucky in the Champions Classic and a meeting with No. 1 Kansas in Las Vegas during Thanksgiving week.

He said his family, friends and teammates have helped him overcome everything he's faced so far.

“I think my parents certainly played a big role in that,” he said. “My teammates, obviously being around them every day, definitely helped me stay focused. And then my friends. I have (childhood) friends that I talk to almost every day. They just help me stay grounded, keep me informed.” Moment.”