BY -- KENDRA: THE MONTVERDE MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM IS IN THE HUNT FOR ANOTHER GIECO CHAMPIONSHIP. I’M KENDRA DOUGLAS. AND THE PLAYERS HAVE GOOD REASON TO BELIEVE IN SUCCESS WITH TWO MCDONALD’S ALL-AMERICANS AND A YOUNG SOPhom*oRE WHO IS CREATING A MIGHTY STRONG RESUME. I CAUGHT UP WITH THAT ATHLETE WHO IS SHINING HIGH ON THE COURT. THE TRANSITION FROM MAINE TO FLORIDA CAN BE TOUGH, BUT ONE COOPER FLAG IS TAKING ON. >> IT WAS TOUGH. IT WAS A NEW LEVEL OF BASKETBALL I WAS NOT USED TO COME UP BUT I AM THANKFUL TO THE EXPERIENCE BECAUSE IT OPEN THE DOOR. KENDRA: BEFORE ARRIVING, HE PLAYED NATIONAL BASKETBALL, HELPING TEAM USA WIN A GOLD MEDAL. >> ELEVATION. COOPER: IT WAS SURREAL AT FIRST. I WAS SEEING PEOPLE I HAD NOT MET BEFORE. KENDRA: NOT ONLY WAS HE THE YOUNGEST PLAYER, BUT A STANDOUT, AND HIS WORK ETHIC ON AND OFF THE COURT HELPED HIM TO EARN THE TITLE OF MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR. >> FLAG OPEN. BIG TOP. COOPER: I GOT NOTIFICATIONS ON INSTAGRAM. I WAS SPEECHLESS WHEN I WENT ON INSTAGRAM AND SAW IT. OBVIOUSLY A HUGE HONOR AND SOMETHING I AM THANKFUL FOR. >> WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT FOUR PLAYERS HAVE BEEN PLAYER OF THE YEAR BUT NEVER A USA ATHLETE OF THE YEAR, SO THAT IS A FIRST. HE IS A GREAT KID AND VERY HUMBLE, AND WORKS HARD. THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS HE IS SUCCESSFUL. KENDRA: THE HEAD COACH MADE HISTORY WITH A RECORD SEVEN PLAYERS SELECTED IN THE NBA DRAFT, SO THE COACH HASN’T, FOR TALENT. COACH BOYLE BELIEVES -- HAS AN EY FOR TALENT. E >> >> HE HAS A CHANCE TO BE A GREAT PLAYER.
Advertisem*nt
Montverde basketball player named USA Male Athlete of the Year
Sophom*ore Cooper Flagg earns highest award in USA Basketball
The transition from Maine to sunny Florida can be a tough one, but it's one that sophom*ore Cooper Flagg is taking on, one slam dunk at a time. "It was pretty tough," Cooper said. "It's kind of a whole new level of like, basketball that I wasn't really used to. But I'm really thankful for the USA experience, obviously, because that kind of opened the door for that." Before arriving at Montverde Academy, Cooper played for USA Men's U-17 National Basketball and helped his team win a gold medal. Not only was Cooper the youngest player on the team, but he also earned the title of USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year. "I was kind of just like speechless when I went on Instagram," Cooper said. "So, I mean, obviously, that's a huge honor."Head coach Kevin Boyle made history in 2021 with a record seven players selected in the NBA Draft. Boyle believes that Cooper is just experiencing the beginning."We've been fortunate to have four Naismith Players of the Year, but we've never had a USA male athlete, so that's the first," Boyle said. "And he's a great kid. He's very humble and he works very hard. And I think that's one of the reasons he's so successful." Cooper has even bigger aspirations."My personal goal, for now, is what I've kind of always had," he said. "I want to make it to the NBA."Top headlines:Police negotiator recalls talking down woman suspected of killing husband at Daytona Beach hospitalMother sues Orange County Public Schools over alleged volunteer ban for OnlyFans accountFlorida power companies want to raise electric bills up to 20%
MONTVERDE, Fla. —
The transition from Maine to sunny Florida can be a tough one, but it's one that sophom*ore Cooper Flagg is taking on, one slam dunk at a time.
"It was pretty tough," Cooper said. "It's kind of a whole new level of like, basketball that I wasn't really used to. But I'm really thankful for the USA experience, obviously, because that kind of opened the door for that."
Advertisem*nt
Before arriving at Montverde Academy, Cooper played for USA Men's U-17 National Basketball and helped his team win a gold medal. Not only was Cooper the youngest player on the team, but he also earned the title of USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year.
"I was kind of just like speechless when I went on Instagram," Cooper said. "So, I mean, obviously, that's a huge honor."
Head coach Kevin Boyle made history in 2021 with a record seven players selected in the NBA Draft. Boyle believes that Cooper is just experiencing the beginning.
"We've been fortunate to have four Naismith Players of the Year, but we've never had a USA male athlete, so that's the first," Boyle said. "And he's a great kid. He's very humble and he works very hard. And I think that's one of the reasons he's so successful."
Cooper has even bigger aspirations.
"My personal goal, for now, is what I've kind of always had," he said. "I want to make it to the NBA."
Top headlines:
- Police negotiator recalls talking down woman suspected of killing husband at Daytona Beach hospital
- Mother sues Orange County Public Schools over alleged volunteer ban for OnlyFans account
- Florida power companies want to raise electric bills up to 20%
