<a href="https://www.on3.com/db/cooper-flagg-152774/">Cooper Flagg</a> is the No. 1 player in the <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/rankings/player/basketball/2025/">2025 On3 50</a> and No. 2 in the <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/rankings/consensus-player/basketball/2025/">2025 On3 Consensus</a>. 



I was able to live scout two of Flagg’s games in Cumberland, Maryland, at the Bob Kirk Invitational this weekend. Flagg is a starter for the consensus top-five ranked Montverde (FL) Academy. 



At the Bob Kirk Invitational, they played Cumberland (MD) Bishop Walsh and Mouth of Wilson (VA) Oak Hill Academy. Flagg started both games and played in only 21 minutes per game due to the blowout nature of both scores.



Flagg’s Montverde team has 11 players on it being recruited by high major schools. He shares the court with two other five-stars, and those same 11 players ranked among the top 100 in their respective class’s On3 Consensus. I lay out this background to help build context around the stats. 



As you can imagine, with any player in the class of 2025, Flagg’s recruitment is just getting started. Add in the layer that the five-star played in Maine last season, a state that is not known to have national visibility. Flagg currently claims offers from Duke, Michigan, UCLA, Iowa, West Virginia, and more. He has not taken any visits yet. 



Let’s take a look at what I saw from Cooper Flagg at the Bob Kirk Invitational and why he is No. 1 in the 2025 On3 50.



<h2 id="h-flagg-s-ready-made-frame">Flagg’s ready-made frame</h2>



When evaluating players, especially at such a young age, there are a lot of factors that play into projection. Oftentimes, size can be a factor. Most players, when young, will need to get stronger and grow into their projections.



Even at 15 (he turns 16 in mid-December) years old, Cooper Flagg is already listed at 6-foot-8. With that height, he also wields a reported 6-foot-11 wing span. Even projecting toward the highest levels, there is not much more growth necessary as the average height for an NBA small forward is around 6-foot-7 and for a power forward is around 6-foot-9.



<h2 id="h-next-level-defensive-instincts">Next-level defensive instincts</h2>



This is where things really shine for Flagg. The 6-8 wing has incredible instincts both in defending at the point of attack and guarding off the ball. The five-star forward led gold-medal winning USA Basketball u17 team in steals this summer at 2.4 per game. It should also be reiterated that the 15-year-old Flagg was playing up two age groups at the u17 level in the FIBA World games.



Flagg has the fluidness to slide his feet at the point of attack, and his instincts in the passing lanes are mostly unparalleled. He led his team with five total steals and numerous other deflections in his two at the Bob Kirk Invitational. 



Flagg might also have the best shot-blocking instincts in high school basketball. While he is not your typical rim protector physically, his ability to affect play at the rim is simply undeniable. Going back to the FIBA World Games, Flagg again led Team USA in blocked shots, with 2.9 per game. While Flagg led that team in both steals and blocked shots, it should also be noted that he played the sixth most minutes on the team. 



During his play at the Bob Kirk Invitational, Flagg averaged 1.5 blocks per game. Even playing as a wing, Flagg will give you an array of transition blocks, weak side blocks, or even man-to-man blocks. The easy comparison here, the one that many float around, is with Andrei Kirilenko. Kirilenko is a former NBA All-Star and All-Defensive first-teamer. 



<h2 id="h-pedigree">Pedigree</h2>



Cooper Flagg comes from a basketball family. He has a twin brother, Ace Flagg, a D-I recruit who plays on the same high school and travel ball teams. His mother, Kelly (Bowman) Flagg, also played basketball at the University of Maine. During her four seasons there, Maine won four consecutive conference championships.



Flagg’s mother was also the team captain of the 1999 Maine team that upset Stanford in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.



<h2 id="h-flagg-s-propensity-to-make-the-right-play">Flagg’s propensity to make the right play</h2>



We will tie this category in with his offensive game. Flagg plays offense within himself and within the flow of the game. No shot taken ever seems to be forced with him.



Flagg averaged 9.0 points on the weekend, shooting 8-for-15 (53%) from the field. His favorite shot seemed to be a two-dribble pull-up he did multiple times that got him to the free-throw line. This will be an integral part of Flagg’s continued development, finding his spots on the floor and then molding his game around getting to those spots. 



Flagg will need to straighten out the jump shot. His load on his jump shot brings the ball to the center of his face, with his elbow extending out of his shooter’s box. This causes his shot arc to be flat at times. His jump shot straightens out and becomes more compact when he takes it from the mid-range. Flagg’s elevation when shooting off the bounce gets him clean looks on most possessions.



Flagg’s rebounding ability and defensive instincts got him out on the break a good bit. Flagg switches ends quickly and is comfortable filling the lanes or leading the break. Interestingly enough, a good number of times, Montverde had Flagg initiate the offense, getting the team into sets in the half-court. 



Flagg is an adept passer; he has great vision in both the open floor and the half-court. During the Bob Kirk Invitational, Flagg averaged 3.5 assists. When he switches ends and pushes the break, whether it is with a steal or a rebound, his decision-making process to keep the ball and attack or deliver a pitch-ahead pass on time always seems to be the right play. 



There is not much wasted movement with Flagg on either side of the ball.

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Live Scouting: 2025 No. 1 Cooper Flagg at the Bob Kirk Invitational

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