Cooper Flagg is one of the most exciting and hyped prospects in recent memory, and now he has an endorsement deal to go with it.
The Duke freshman and Maine native has signed a “significant” shoe endorsement deal with New Balance, according to a report from ESPN on Monday. New Balance’s headquarters are in Boston, and the brand has a sizable imprint on athletics in New England. Flagg – a proud native of Newport, Maine – told ESPN that it makes this deal even more meaningful.
“The connection with New Balance as a family company and a company with Maine roots means a lot to me,” Flagg told ESPN. “That makes this really different and special. My mom used to go to the tent sale for back-to-school shopping there when we were kids. That really aligns the brand with my roots. It’s a perfect fit.”
Flagg is only 17 as he enters his freshman year at Duke this fall, but the recent changes to name, image and likeness deals in college have allowed amateur athletes like Flagg to profit with endorsements, Even at the high school level, NIL deals have become commonplace for elite-level prospects. Brockton’s AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1-ranked recruit in the class of 2025, signed a deal with Nike earlier this year.
