Duke freshman Cooper Flagg’s basketball journey: How small-town roots, grit, and family shaped a future NBA star

Cooper Flagg’s path to becoming Duke’s standout and the projected top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft started in a small town in Maine. In Newport, where he was raised, basketball wasn’t just a sport; it was part of everyday life. His parents, both former basketball players, passed down that love for the game to Cooper and his two brothers. But what really makes the Flagg story special isn’t just the talent. It’s the grit, the routines, and the tight-knit family bond that’s carried them through wins, losses, and everything in between.

Before Cooper Flagg played under the lights at Duke’s Cameron Indoor, his mom, Kelly Bowman Flagg, was leaving her mark on the court. Back in 1999, she helped lead the University of Maine to its first NCAA tournament win, a feat that later got her into the UMaine Sports Hall of Fame. One of her high school coaches once called her a “very well-rounded player who does everything well.”
Cooper’s father, Ralph Flagg, also played college basketball at Eastern Maine Community College. He met Kelly in a men’s league after graduation, and the two quickly connected over their shared love for the game. Ralph, who is 6'7", didn’t just pass on his height to Cooper. He and Kelly built a life together in Newport that revolved around hoops and family.
Starting a family wasn't easy for Kelly and Ralph. In 2004, Kelly delivered premature twins, Hunter and Ryder. Sadly, Ryder passed away just two days after birth. Hunter had to fight through more than 100 days in the NICU before finally coming home.
Two years later, after several IVF cycles, Kelly gave birth to another set of twins, Cooper and Ace, on December 21, 2006. From that moment forward, it was clear basketball would be at the center of their world.
Cooper, Ace, and Hunter all played for Nokomis Regional High School and led the team to a state championship in 2022. Cooper later transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida, while Ace continued his high school journey, eventually winning three state titles in three different states.
In April 2025, Ace committed to play for the University of Maine, joining Hunter, who is currently a sports management student there. “A large factor of my decision was a love for the state of Maine,” Ace said. “Being able to play and represent the state I love is extremely special to me.”

Cooper’s rise at Duke has been impressive, especially now that his team is heading into the Final Four. But despite the spotlight, he hasn’t lost touch with where it all began. Back in January 2025, he told Blue Devil Nation, “I grew up in the gym with my dad. Late nights, early mornings, with him just rebounding for me.”
The Flagg parents have their own set of quirky game-day rituals. Kelly always makes sure to sit in the exact same seat, and Ralph never wears Duke gear during the games. "I like to sit by the same person or in the same seating order," she told 'People' in March 2025.
Who could forget March’s viral moment? When Cooper threw down a dunk on UNC, Kelly was caught on camera celebrating with a bold chant. She later wrote on Facebook, "It was a moment of being so proud of our kid and also a big F*** you to the entire Carolina fan base for being classless a**holes."

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The Flagg family’s story is really about heart, loyalty, and sticking together no matter what life throws at them. It started with Kelly and Ralph back when they were playing college ball, and now it’s carried through to Cooper, who’s chasing an NBA dream. Their path hasn’t just been about the game. It’s been about love, grief, and showing up for each other in a small Maine town where it all started with a hoop in the driveway and big dreams that just kept getting bigger.