Cooper and Ace Flagg were hard at work on Saturday as they hosted a youth basketball camp at the University of Maine.
But the twin brothers from Newport were also enjoying being back in their home state — and giving back to the next generation of Maine players.
“I remember when we were their age, we had players that we looked up to,” Ace Flagg said about hosting the sold-out camp for hundreds of kids. “So to be able to be that example for them is really nice.”
Ace Flagg is back in Maine full time as he starts his freshman season as a member of the University of Maine men’s basketball team. His brother is also embarking on a new step as a rookie for the Dallas Mavericks.
The weekend youth camp, and the trip home to Maine, made a nice change of pace for the NBA’s top draft pick this year.
“It’s really refreshing being home, being in this environment,” Cooper Flagg said on Saturday in Orono. “You know, having this happen and being able to put a lot of smiles on these kids’ faces, it just means a lot. It’s definitely really refreshing.”
The 18-year-old rookie said he hoped that the campers would have a good time and learn something during the experience.
The camp is yet another memorable moment in an action-packed summer for Cooper Flagg, who became the first-ever number-one NBA pick from Maine and quickly proved why during NBA Summer League.
“It’s been an incredible summer, a lot of memories and experiences I’ll never forget,” Cooper Flagg said.
He tries to find some spots in a busy schedule to relax, and getting back to Maine can offer a chance to recharge, he said.
“Usually when I’m here in Maine, that’s my time to kind of forget about all that stuff,” he said.
Returning to Maine, whether it’s a shorter trip for Cooper or the start of a college career for Ace, clearly means a lot to the whole Flagg family.
“We’re so excited to be here, have the boys be here, and be able to give back to Maine,” said their father, Ralph Flagg.
Their mother, Kelly Flagg, also played at the University of Maine and was a key player on the only UMaine team to win an NCAA tournament game.
“It’s exciting, I always love coming back home and coming to the university,” she said on Saturday. “And to have Ace here, we’re really excited to watch him this year.”
Ace Flagg is already settling in for the Black Bears, and relishing the chance to be back in Maine.
“It means a lot. This is our home, where we come from,” Ace Flagg said. “Maine is a very special place. The community is very tight knit, and there’s not many places like it where you can move across the country but still have that support behind you.”
