Duke freshman Flagg headings USA Select group

• Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterJun 28, 2024, 12:00 PM ET

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  • ESPN.com NBA author since 2010
  • Covered Cleveland Cavs for seven years
  • Author of two books

A year from now, incoming Duke freshman Cooper Flagg could be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, and he’s currently adding to his résumé. U.S.A. Basketball has invited the 17-year-old to practice against Group USA ahead of the Paris Olympics.Flagg was among 15 players called to the U.S.A. Select Team on Friday, a group that will help the national group prepare at a training school next week in Las Vegas. There’s a long history of players from the Select Team ultimately signing up with the national group down the line, including present players Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton, who served in the role in 2021 before the Tokyo Olympics.Flagg, a 6-foot-9 forward from Newport, Maine, is the first collegian to bet the Select Group considering that 2013, when then-college stars Doug McDermott of Creighton and Marcus Smart of Oklahoma State were on the squad.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated Signing up with Flagg will be a group of players who just ended up

strong novice seasons. Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller, who finished third in Novice of the Year ballot this previous season, will be on the team with Golden State Warriors Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis and Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., all of whom also were standout novices in 2023-24. Veteran players Trey Murphy of the New Orleans Pelicans, Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons, Keegan Murray of the Sacramento Kings, Jalen Suggs of the Orlando Magic, Micah Potter of the Utah Jazz, Payton Pritchard of the champion Boston Celtics, and young Houston Firecrackers forwards Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. have also been named to the team.Players with overseas experience in the FIBA-style game will also be on the roster, consisting of previous NBA players Langston Galloway and Nigel Hayes-Davis.

The team will be coached by Magic coach Jamahl Mosley.”As a former member of the U.S.A. Select Group, I know how important and enjoyable this chance is for each of these players

,”U.S.A. Basketball managing director Grant Hill said in a declaration.

“There is a tremendous amount of talent on this Select squad with the considerable task of assisting the 2024 U.S.A. Guys’s National Group as they start their journey to the Olympics. Each of these professional athletes will play a role in our preparation as we also establish the nationwide team pipeline for the future.”