Player Portrait: Flagg Twins Aiming To Put Maine On The Map

<p style="text-align: justify;">Newport, Me.  — Maine is not a state known for basketball talent on the national stage, with the University of Maine being the state's only NCAA Division I program. The state rarely turns out Division I players, but there is a Class of 2025 duo that could change the narrative.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Twins <strong>Ace Flagg</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="508" first="Cooper" last="Flagg"]</strong> are extremely talented players that compete on the youth hoops circuit with the Maine United organization. Many local grassroots basketball veterans, including Blue Wave head coach Andy Bedard, believe the brothers have the potential to play college basketball at a very high level.</p> <blockquote> <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #be32df;">"They're more than a little bit unique for Maine," said Bedard.</span></p> </blockquote> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Flagg twins are both approaching 6-foot-6, but that is just about the only similarities they have in their games according to Bedard. He described Cooper as an extremely lanky forward who is most suited to play on the perimeter. He can put the ball on the floor in the half-court and is capable of finishing above the rim. Bedard has Cooper bring the ball up the floor at times and believes he can be a point-forward at the high school level. Additionally, Cooper is certainly capable of putting up points in bunches, but that is not his best attribute according to coach Bedard.</p> <blockquote> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #be32df; font-size: 14pt;">"As a coach, it's great to have your most skilled player also be the one who works the hardest on defense," Bedard said of Cooper. "His length gives him the ability to guard multiple positions and he is a good shot-blocker. His defensive versatility at this age is rare. [Cooper] allows us to switch almost every pick and roll. He's most confident when he has the ball. He's a real competitor on both ends of the floor."</span></p> </blockquote> <p style="text-align: justify;">While Ace did not start playing with Blue Wave until three years ago, he has more than made up for the lost time. He uses his 6-foot-6 frame well around the basket and can finish with either hand at the rim. Bedard commented that Ace is working on his mid-range jumper, which he feels will make him an even more dangerous threat on the offensive end. While his versatility inside the lane is impressive, it might not be the factor of his game that stands out the most.</p> <blockquote> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #be32df;">"Ace is a tremendous passer in both the high post and low post. [That's] a rare skill to have in such a young big man," Bedard stated. "His ability to make smart decisions with the basketball in the paint is something that cannot be taught. That will be extremely valuable to him in high school. Ace is also a good pick-and-roll defender as he is able to hedge out quickly on screens; [he] avoids the hip-check foul that plagues so many big men. He gets his butt down on the defensive end and knows how to move his feet."</span></p> </blockquote> <p style="text-align: justify;">Both of the Flagg twins' parents played collegiate basketball with mom lacing them up for the Maine Black Bears. Coach Bedard also played at Maine, creating a good support group around the brothers that understand the dedication needed to play Division I basketball. While Cooper and Ace have at least four years before they will have an opportunity to sign any letters of intent, their talent and trajectory should make them players to watch in Maine for the next several years.</p> Stay tuned for more from Prep Hoops Next!