Duke Blue’s most seasoned star wants to take a leave of absence so that he can play.
Cooper Flagg of Duke is the first men’s basketball player in the NCAA to sign a non-binding contract with Gatorade.
Duke men’s basketball’s freshman sensation gets some significant news as the team prepares to kick off the regular season.
The 6-foot-9 big for the Blue Devils, Cooper Flagg, is agreeing to a NIL contract with Gatorade. On the Gatorade athlete roster, he is the first collegiate men’s basketball player.
“This year has been a big year for me on and off the court, and Gatorade has been there the whole way,” Flagg wrote in an email sent to The Chronicle on Tuesday. “Having my name spoken among some of the biggest names in basketball, after winning the Gatorade Best Male Player of the Year award and now formally joining the team, has been weird. I’m thrilled to collaborate with the legendary Gatorade team as I move forward.
Flagg joins the elite Gatorade squad, which also features former Blue Devil Jayson Tatum, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, and women’s basketball stars Caitlin Clark, Juju Watkins, and Paige Bueckers.
In an email to The Chronicle, Jeff Kearney, global president of sports marketing for Gatorade, stated, “Cooper is an incredible talent who quickly emerged as one of the best young athletes in the nation, and we know he has a bright future ahead of him.” “We work with the best of the best at Gatorade, so we’re thrilled to have Cooper join the family and look forward to supporting him as his college career gets underway.”
With 22 and 9 points in the Blue Devils’ opening two exhibition games, respectively, the 2024 Gatorade Men’s Player of the Year left his imprint. Duke’s season begins on November 4 against Flagg’s home state of Maine.
