Tag: USA Basketball

‘The sky’s the limit’: Kevin Durant, other NBA players rave about Cooper Flagg

After his standout weekend with the USA Basketball Men’s Select Team, Cooper Flagg caught the eye of Kevin Durant and other NBA stars.

NBA scouts and coaches fell even farther in love with incoming Duke basketball freshman [autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag] over the weekend, and they weren’t the only ones impressed.

After the 17-year-old produced multiple highlights during scrimmages against the country’s Olympic team, including two consecutive buckets during Monday’s final scrimmage, Kevin Durant and other basketball stars took the time to uplift him.

During a Monday afternoon media session, Durant praised the young Flagg and showed optimism for his future.

“He looks like a hell of a player,” Durant said. “Somebody who is only going to get better with more experience. He’s 17 years old coming in here playing like he’s a vet, almost. No emotion. Just going out there and doing his job.”

It’s hard to find better praise than Durant, a former NBA MVP. The offensive superstar won back-to-back championships with the Golden State Warriors back in 2017-18, and he’s eighth on the league’s all-time scoring list with 28,924 career points.

The Athletic released a compilation of other NBA players and coaches talking about the young Blue Devil signee. Every source, from current coaches to All-Stars, walked away from Las Vegas as a fan. Phoenix’s Devin Booker, Detroit’s Jalen Duren, and Miami’s Jamie Jaquez Jr. all offered some anecdotes about his work ethic and talent.

The most impressive quote, however, came from Golden State’s Trayce Jackson-Davis.

I just think that he’s got a competitive fire, and he’s not afraid of anyone and he’s gonna go at you,” Jackson-Davis said. “You need that as a player. And when you’re already like that, and you’re 17, the sky’s the limit.”

The best photos from Cooper Flagg’s time with Team USA Basketball

Check out the best photos of Cooper Flagg alongside NBA stars like LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Jayson Tatum during Olympic training camp.

This past weekend changed incoming Duke freshman [autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag]’s life, there’s no denying that.

Sure, it’s hard to think a prospect like Flagg could gather more hype. He was the only collegiate player on the Team USA Men’s Select Team for a reason. He’s the consensus No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2024, and many expect him to hear his name called with the top pick in the 2025 NBA draft.

However, getting to play scrimmages against the United States Olympic team at the age of 17 can’t be an overstated experience. The 6-foot-9 forward shared a court with NBA legends like LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant, and Flagg even found ways to stand out on that same basketball court. He went viral for a series of consecutive baskets on Monday, and multiple NBA scouts and figures preached about how impressive the young player looked.

Here are some of the best photos from Flagg against James, Curry, fellow Duke alum Jayson Tatum, and some of the best players in the world.

Duke basketball posts photo of three Blue Devils stars from Team USA Olympic training camp

The Duke basketball team was well-represented at the Team USA Olympic preparation, as showcased by one photo of three Blue Devils on Monday.

The 2024 Olympic men’s basketball team for the United States wouldn’t exist without several key Duke alums, at least not in its current form. Few college programs can match the Blue Devils’ representation in Las Vegas during the preparation camp this weekend.

Boston Celtics star [autotag]Jayson Tatum[/autotag] joins the team for a second time after he helped the United States win a gold medal in Tokyo three years ago. Now, he gets to participate in the Olympics as an NBA champion after the Celtics breezed through the playoffs.

Incoming freshman [autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag] also got to participate as a member of the Select Team, a group of opponents for the Olympic team to scrimmage against to sharpen their skills. Even as the only active college player on the roster, Flagg went viral multiple times for his performance and caught the eye of several NBA scouts over the weekend.

Two-time national champion [autotag]Grant Hill[/autotag] even contributed, helping sculpt the team as the managing director. Duke fans enjoyed all three stars together in a photograph shared by the team.

For those counting, there’s an NBA title, two NCAA national champions, nine total All-NBA teams, and two top-three NBA draft picks in this photo. And Flagg’s career hasn’t even started yet. It’s reasonable to think that, by 2035, these three might be the three Duke basketball players with the best NBA careers.

NBA scouts and coaches rave about Cooper Flagg after his performance against Team USA

Cooper Flagg went viral a few times for standout moments against the U.S. Olympic team, and reports say NBA scouts and coaches took notice.

[autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag] didn’t make the Olympic squad for the United States this summer, but even as a member of the Select Team, the incoming Duke freshman might have won the week.

The top-ranked prospect in the Class of 2024 will begin his Duke career shortly, but he spent the past two days scrimmaging against Team USA. He went viral multiple times for his efforts, first for a slashing dunk on Sunday before he knocked down back-to-back buckets on Monday. The performances caught the eyes of NBA scouts and coaches alike.

ESPN writer Marc J. Spears started the wave with a social media post on Monday night saying one current NBA coach called Flagg the best player on the Select Team. Keep in mind, Flagg was the only collegiate player on that squad as every other member of the team came from the NBA.

On3’s Jamie Shaw followed up with a bigger report on Tuesday with multiple anonymous takes from NBA scouts.

The scouts Shaw spoke to routinely praised Flagg’s competitiveness, a trait Duke coach Jon Scheyer also pointed out as a positive. His defense came up over and over again, with one quote from the report calling him one of the best defensive prospects of the last decade.

“He’s super versatile on the defensive end,” one scout said. “That’s what his best attribute is, the defensive instincts and his competitiveness.”

Scouts likened him to NBA names like Paul George, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and former Duke basketball star [autotag]Jayson Tatum[/autotag]. They had questions about how Flagg would take a step forward as a shot creator and as an offensive presence, but the floor seems high.

“At worst, as long as his motor and competitive edge doesn’t give, he’s got the chance to be a long-time presence on an All-NBA defensive list,” one scout told Shaw. “At best, he can be the face of the new frontier of the upcoming talent into the league.”

Cooper Flagg scores back-to-back baskets during Team USA basketball scrimmage

Cooper Flagg continues to impress as a member of the U.S. Select Team, this time with consecutive buckets during a scrimmage on Monday.

[autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag] keeps finding ways to stand out on a court with the best American basketball players on the planet.

The incoming Duke freshman and the only collegiate basketball player on the USA Basketball Men’s Select Team played yet another scrimmage against the American Olympic squad on Monday and went viral when he dropped back-to-back buckets.

Flagg first connected from 3-point range, hitting the shot over Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis. He followed Davis down the court, and after a bad pass led to a turnover, Flagg handled the ball up the court in transition. He tried to find a teammate for another 3-pointer, but when the shot didn’t fall, he raced into the paint for the put-back layup.

The clip comes one day after Flagg gained attention for a dunk during Sunday’s scrimmage, recovering from a Davis block on a jump shot attempt to slash toward the basket for an easy two points.

Flagg, the top-ranked prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, remains the presumed favorite to get taken first overall in the 2025 NBA draft.

PHOTOS: Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr. join USA Basketball training camp

As part of the Select Team, Rockets prospects Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. joined this week’s USA Basketball training camp for the Olympics.

Third-year Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. and second-year guard Amen Thompson are on the 2024 Select Team for USA Basketball. As part of their duties, Smith (No. 39) and Thompson (No. 29) practiced in Las Vegas versus the U.S. national team as part of preparations for the Paris Olympics, which begin in late July.

Beyond Thompson and Smith, other members of the 2024 USA Select Team include Payton Pritchard, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Jalen Duren, Jalen Suggs, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Brandin Podziemski, Brandon Miller, Trey Murphy, Keegan Murray, Micah Potter, Nigel Hayes-Davis, Langston Galloway, and collegiate prospect Cooper Flagg.

“As a former [Select Team] member, I know how important and fun this opportunity is,” said Grant Hill, formerly an NBA star and currently managing director of USA Basketball. “There is a tremendous amount of talent on this Select squad with the significant job of helping the 2024 national team as they begin their journey to the Olympics. Each of these athletes will play a role in our preparation as we also develop the national team pipeline for the future.”

With that in mind, here’s a pictorial look at some of Thompson and Smith’s 2024 Select Team activities. All practices and scrimmages took place at UNLV’s Mendenhall Center in Las Vegas.

Khaman Maluach, South Sudan set to play the United States in Olympics group stage

The men’s basketball groups for the 2024 Olympic Games are set, and Khaman Maluach will have the chance to lead South Sudan against the USA.

Incoming Duke basketball freshman [autotag]Khaman Maluach[/autotag] already has experience against professional basketball players in Africa, but he’ll (presumably) get one more massive boost on his resume in Paris this summer.

Maluach already made South Sudan’s training camp roster for the 2024 Olympic Games, and after his time on the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup squad, he seems like a lock for the team. With the groups set for pool play, the United States stands in his way as well.

South Sudan and the U.S. both drew Group C for the international competition alongside Serbia (home of three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic) and Puerto Rico.

Maluach, just 17 years old, stands more than 7 feet tall and he’s a presumed lottery pick in the 2025 NBA draft.

Another Blue Devil plays in Group C, too, with recent NBA champion Jayson Tatum on the United States squad. [autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag], Maluach’s future teammate and the top-ranked 2024 prospect, made the country’s Select Team to help the Olympic squad prepare.

Eight of the 12 available teams will advance from group play to the quarterfinals before the tournament becomes a single-elimination tournament.

Cooper Flagg talks about his time with Team USA basketball as Select Team member

Ahead of Sunday’s opening scrimmage, future Duke basketball star Cooper Flagg talked about his first experiences with Team USA basketball.

[autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag]’s experience as the only collegiate player on the USA Basketball Men’s Select Team officially got underway this weekend, and he made an early impression with a dunk during Sunday’s opening scrimmage with the Olympic squad.

Hours before the scrimmage got underway, however, Flagg spoke about what the first part of the experience meant to him.

“It’s been a great experience,” Flagg said during a quick interview. “Being able to learn, talk, just see what their routine (is) and see what some of these guys do, so it’s been great just to be able to learn.”

The Sunday highlight included NBA stars like LeBron James, Anthony Edwards, and Anthony Davis (who actually blocked Flagg’s first jump shot). When asked which basketball legend most excited him, however, the future Blue Devil didn’t have an answer.

“I think everybody,” Flagg said. “I think everybody on that team, like growing up as a kid, is somebody that I kind of looked up to.”

Flagg, the top-ranked prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, currently sits as the projected favorite to go first overall in next year’s NBA draft.

Cooper Flagg throws down dunk in Team USA Basketball scrimmage highlight

While on a court with NBA stars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Cooper Flagg threw down a dunk during a Team USA scrimmage on Sunday.

[autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag] remains the only collegiate basketball player on the USA Basketball Men’s Select Team this summer, but he still found a way to stand out on the court during Sunday’s scrimmage.

The Select Team is tasked with practicing against the country’s Olympic squad ahead of this summer’s tournament in Paris, so Flagg will share a basketball court with LeBron James and other NBA stars before he ever plays a college game. During the first scrimmage between the two squads over the weekend, a clip went viral of Flagg throwing down a dunk.

Flagg’s offensive possession actually started a little rocky when Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis blocked his mid-range jump shot attempt. Flagg recovered quickly, grabbing his own rebound and lofting the ball to Golden State’s Brandin Podziemski to save the possession.

Flagg then slashed back to the basket down the baseline, and Podziemski found him with a no-look pass for the assist.

And yes, that is LeBron in the paint and Minnesota star Anthony Edwards contesting Flagg’s pass on the perimeter, if you’re curious about how high the competition level is for the future Blue Devil.

First look of Cooper Flagg on USA Basketball Men’s Select Team ahead of Olympic prep

Duke fans got their first look at Cooper Flagg in a Team USA uniform on Sunday during the first Select Team scrimmages.

Before [autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag] wears a Duke basketball uniform during game action, he’ll spend some time with the best players on the planet during Olympic preparation for Team USA.

Last month, it was announced that Flagg would be the only active collegiate player on the USA Basketball Men’s Select Team tasked with sharpening the Olympic roster ahead of the Games in Paris this summer. On Sunday, Blue Devils fans got their first look at Flagg with the Stars and Stripes with some photos from Team USA scrimmages.

Flagg sported the number 31 in the pictures, and a viral video from the scrimmages showed him facing Anthony Davis in an offensive possession before throwing down a dunk.

The top-ranked prospect in the country and the presumed No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft spearheads an elite Duke basketball recruiting class. He, fellow presumed lottery pick Khaman Maluach, and four other top-40 prospects have the Blue Devils among the top national championship favorites.