Cooper Flagg’s mom, Kelly, knew he was going to be special 🔥 …

Cooper Flagg’s mom, Kelly, knew he was going to be special 🔥

 

From the moment Cooper Flagg picked up a basketball, his mom, Kelly Flagg, knew there was something different about her son. Long before the national spotlight, the viral highlights, and the college scouts lining up to watch him play, Kelly saw the fire in his eyes — a quiet intensity, a drive that never wavered. To her, it wasn’t just talent. It was purpose.

Growing up in the small town of Newport, Maine, the Flagg household was rooted in basketball. Kelly herself was a former college player at the University of Maine, so the game was already in Cooper’s DNA. But it wasn’t just about passing down skills or knowledge — it was about passing down a love for the grind. Kelly often talks about how Cooper would spend hours in the gym, not because anyone made him, but because he couldn’t imagine doing anything else. He was that kid who’d shoot in the driveway through freezing New England winters, gloves on his hands, determination in his heart.

Kelly noticed early on that Cooper’s instincts were beyond his years. At six years old, he wasn’t just playing — he was reading the game. He understood spacing, timing, and angles like a coach. “He just saw things differently,” Kelly would say. And while plenty of kids dream of NBA stardom, Cooper backed his dreams with relentless effort. He studied film. He asked questions. He wanted to be great — not for attention, but for the love of the craft.

When Cooper entered middle school, it became even more apparent. His size, athleticism, and skill set were undeniable, but it was his mindset that separated him. He wasn’t content just being the best in the gym — he wanted to be better than he was yesterday. Kelly recalls the way he took losses harder than anyone, not because he was upset with teammates, but because he held himself to the highest standard. That kind of accountability doesn’t come easy in young athletes, but for Cooper, it was second nature.

As he began to rise through the ranks — dominating AAU circuits, leading Nokomis Regional High School to a state title, and eventually transferring to Montverde Academy — the national attention exploded. Suddenly, the kid from Maine was being talked about as the top high school prospect in the country. But through it all, Kelly made sure Cooper stayed grounded. She reminded him of who he was before the rankings, the social media buzz, and the ESPN features.

Now, with the basketball world watching his every move, Cooper Flagg stands on the cusp of greatness. But for Kelly, it’s not surprising — it’s simply the natural progression of a journey she saw coming all along. “I always knew,” she says with a quiet smile. “Not because he was tall or athletic, but because he was different. Focused. Unshakable. Special.”

And the world is just now catching up.