Duke freshman forward Cooper Flagg, the projected first pick within the 2025 NBA Draft, has signed a contract with New Balance, the apparel company announced Monday.
The deal – first reported by ESPN – makes Flagg one in every of New Balance's most famous athletes, likely including his own shoe. Flagg is one in every of New Balance's basketball headliners, together with Kawhi Leonard, Jamal Murray and WNBA rookie Cameron Brink.
“I grew up with New Balance and value their authentic connection to my community. I was drawn to the brand's focus and growth in basketball, as well as our shared values and history,” Flagg said in an announcement. “From day one, it was clear that this would be a family-like partnership. I am thrilled to join this family and help them grow the category with young athletes.”
Cooper Flagg, The Smart Choice. pic.twitter.com/JvvvMM9lfm
— New Balance (@newbalance) 26 August 2024
For Flagg, selecting New Balance was not only knowledgeable decision, but additionally a private one: The reigning Gatorade National Player of the Year and five-star recruit grew up just 25 miles from New Balance's manufacturing plant in Skowhegan, Maine.
Before each latest school yr, Flagg's mother, Kelly, took him and his twin brother, Ace, to the factory's annual tent sale, where they bought a brand new pair of sneakers and a brand new backpack. To promote Monday's announcement, the corporate even filmed promotional material with Flagg in his hometown of Newport, Maine.
“Cooper is a great addition to our basketball roster and we are thrilled to welcome him to the New Balance family,” said Naveen Lokesh, head of basketball sports marketing at New Balance, in an announcement. “He is a force to be reckoned with on the court and we look forward to growing our relationship with him as he continues to develop the game and supporting him in all his endeavors.”
Before last season, Connecticut's star women's player Paige Bueckers became the primary college athlete together with her own shoe contract after signing a NIL take care of Nike. Now Flagg is the second, despite never having played a single minute for the Blue Devils.
While some college athletes have partnered with apparel firms in the course of the NIL era—Adidas, for instance, signed 15 college students in the summertime of 2022 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Title IX—it's still a relative rarity reserved for the game's rising stars.
Flagg matches that mold, despite the fact that he has yet to make a university appearance. Despite reclassifying to 2024, the 6-foot-1 forward retained the No. 1 spot in the category' recruiting rankings and is anticipated to steer Duke in Jon Scheyer's third season as head coach. Duke is ranked No. 6 in The athlete's preseason top 25 rankings.
Required reading
image credit : www.nytimes.com