Elite high school prospect Cooper Flagg reclassifies to 2024

Arguably the top high school basketball player in the world will play at the college level a year earlier than expected.

On Friday afternoon, five-star small forward Cooper Flagg announced on social media that he is reclassifying from 2025 up to 2024. His move from rising high school junior to rising senior is significant news in the world of basketball. The 6-foot-9 Flagg is expected to forgo any professional pathway and play one year of college basketball, which will now happen in the 2024-25 season, before heading to the NBA. He is eligible for the 2025 NBA Draft, where he will be projected top pick.

Originally from Maine, the Montverde (FL) Academy product has already been tabbed as the No. 1 overall player in the updated class of 2024 rankings, per the On3 Industry Ranking. The decision to reclass to 2024 had been rumored for months and finally came to fruition on Friday.

NEWS: Cooper Flagg, one of the top prospects in HS basketball, will reclassify to 2024 class, where he will remain the No. 1 overall player, per On3.

Story: https://t.co/Vcdo3OPp1d pic.twitter.com/XUiCp5JjV8

— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) August 11, 2023

So how does this news relate to Kentucky?

For starters, there is at least some level of interest from the Wildcats. Head coach John Calipari and members of his staff were constant sideline watchers for Flagg’s AAU games this summer on the EYBL circuit for Maine United U16. Flagg has briefly mentioned Kentucky in the past during interviews but has done a good job of keeping his recruitment close to the vest.

That being said, no official offer from Kentucky has been publicly announced by Flagg, and the current expectation is that the Duke Blue Devils lead in his recruitment. He even visited Duke at the beginning of August. The likes of Kansas, UCLA, UConn, Villanova, and many more, have also extended offers his way.

Throughout the summer, Flagg averaged 22.4 points and 9.4 rebounds en route to earning the MVP award and the camp championship at the NBPA Top 100 Camp. He then went on to average 25.4 points, 13.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 6.9 blocks, and 1.4 steals at Nike’s Peach Jam, where he helped lead his Maine United team to the Peach Jam 16U championship game.