Gatorade announced on Tuesday that it signed Duke basketball freshman [autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag] to a name, image, and likeness endorsement deal, making him the first men’s college basketball player to sign with the brand.
“I feel really blessed and honored for the opportunity that has been given to me,” Flagg told Sports Illustrated’s Liam McKeone. “I know for me, specifically, I’ve always drank Gatorade. Me and my brothers growing up, our mom would come back from the grocery store with a new case of Gatorade a couple times a week. That kind of connection makes it mean a little bit more.”
Flagg, who finished as the top-ranked freshman in every Class of 2024 ranking, made the Associated Press Preseason All-America Team and earned ACC Rookie of the Year honors in the conference’s preseason poll ahead of his debut season. He already signed an endorsement deal with New Balance, and according to On3, his NIL valuation of $2.6 million leads all men’s college basketball players.
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Flagg averaged 15.5 points, 4.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks through his two offseason exhibition games against Arizona State and Lincoln. He makes his regular-season debut on Monday against Maine.