Maine native Cooper Flagg comments on tragic Lewiston shooting

A man shot and killed at least 16 people, wounding dozens of others last night in Lewiston, Maine according to the Associated Press. Law enforcement is still searching for the suspect. The AP reported that Robert Card, 40, is a person of interest in the attack.

Newport, Maine native and Montverde Academy basketball prospect Cooper Flagg commented on social media about the mass shooting and subsequent manhunt currently taking place in his home state.

Flagg wrote, “All of our focus should be on supporting the victims, their families, and law enforcement — everything else can wait. My heart is with Maine.”

All of our focus should be on supporting the victims, their families, and law enforcement – everything else can wait. My heart is with Maine.

— Cooper Flagg (@Cooper_Flagg) October 26, 2023

For context, reports indicated that Flagg could announce his college decision soon. Forbes’ Adam Zagoria reported on Wednesday that the phenom prospect is expected to announce his decision this week, according to his Montverde coach, Kevin Boyle.

But for now, it appears as though that announcement is on the back burner given the tragic events happening in his home state.

Who is Cooper Flagg?

Flagg is the nation’s No. 1 prospect in the 2024 basketball recruiting cycle after reclassifying from the class of 2025.

Flagg took his official visit to Duke over the weekend as the Blue Devils hosted their Countdown to Craziness event. He also took an official visit to UConn in September, as the Huskies are the other program in the running for his pledge.

“The most common name heard in reference to Cooper Flagg is Andrei Kirilenko. When you watch Flagg, you can see shades of Kirilenko in his game. The efficiency Flagg plays with on the offensive end, coupled with possessing game-changing defensive attributes, is reminiscent of the former Utah Jazz wing,” wrote On3’s Jamie Shaw.

Scouting Summary: “Cooper Flagg is a lengthy forward prospect with a straight-line burst and a high basketball IQ. His instincts on the defensive end stand out immediately. He understands angles and rotations and has excellent anticipation both in passing lanes and as a weak-side shot-blocker. His hips are loose, and he can open up and slide or recover. Flagg is a good spot shooter with a consistently high release point. The shot can be a bit slow at times which can call for some inconsistencies off the bounce. He is a smart off-ball cutter and can handle the ball well in open space.

“…I would like to see him tighten the handle some, especially in tight spaces. The passing has really started to pop. At the NBPA Top 100 Camp, he showed comfort on the ball, initiating the pick-and-roll. Throughout the summer, he showed excellent passing ability with both hands, multiple angles, off-live dribble, and on target. High-level prospect, tracking among the top nationally, in his class. Mom was a team captain at the University of Maine.”