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Duke basketball player Cooper Flagg is the top earner in college hoops. This week, he got even richer by landing a historic deal with Gatorade.
The partnership makes him the lone men’s NCAA basketball star to sign with the sports drink company as he joins elite company to promote his new NIL brand.
Flagg announced the deal on Tuesday via social media outlets.
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Cooper Flagg was a consensus five-star prospect and the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2024 class. The 6-8 small forward from Maine signed with the Duke Blue Devils over offers from the likes of Kansas, Connecticut, UCLA, and more.
He’s now gearing up for Year 1 in Durham.
Flagg projects to be a one-and-done player, as he’s already regarded as a No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. He’s immediately made his presence felt competing in exhibition play ahead of the regular season.
By signing the deal with Gatorade, he joins Shedeur Sanders, Paige Buekers, and Juju Watkins in the “G-Fam’s” group of NCAA stars.
It’s only added to his growing list of major brands after recently signing with shoe company New Balance, too.
On3 Sports currently estimates an NIL value of $2.6 million for the college basketball phenom, making Flagg the top earner in the sport while giving him the No. 5 valuation in the NCAA.
Cooper Flagg seems excited about his newest opportunity.
“For me it was a huge opportunity coming from a family that drank Gatorade pretty much my whole life. I grew up with my brothers drinking Gatorade almost every day. So, I think having that kind of connection and then just aligning myself with the brand that is very high level and about the right stuff and does it the right way.”
-Cooper Flagg
Flagg was a Gatorade National Player of the Year in high school making this partnership all the more fitting upon arriving to Duke. Now, he takes the next step.
With Flagg in the fold, the Blue Devils expect to be an ACC title favorite, and a legitimate national championship contender this March. They’ve already started to flex those muscles on the floor this fall.
Duke hosted Arizona State earlier this week in exhibition play, besting the Sun Devils by a score of 103-47.
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Cooper Flagg recorded nine points, four boards, and three assists in 21 minutes of action.
The Blue Devils tip off the regular season on November 4th against Flagg’s home state university, Maine. Expect the forward to be a major contributor from Day 1.