This Maine Flagg is Flying Ahead of the Olympics

Where were you when you were 17? What were you doing? What were your dreams? What were you doing to pursue them?

Newport, Maine's 17-year-old Cooper Flagg is showing us that age means very little when you put in the work and have grit. He's also making fellow Mainers extremely proud.

Cooper Flagg From Maine is Dominating the Sports Headlines

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"At USA Basketball camp, teenage prodigy Cooper Flagg steals the show" - The Washington Post

"Cooper Flagg 'dominates' in scrimmage vs. USA Olympic team" - New York Post

"Flagg's 'no fear' approach in Team USA scrimmage draws rave reviews" - ESPN

Those headlines are just a few. If you go to ANY sports publication, you will see the name Cooper Flagg. He is only 17 and he is from Maine (most articles and reports mention both of those details, too) - and understandably so. His performance during the USA Olympic men's basketball team's practice was phenomenal and inspiring.

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When was the last time a basketball sensation hailed from Maine?

There have been a few NBA players from Maine (reportedly four), but none that created this much excitement like Cooper Flagg. Not even close.

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The latest to hail from Maine and currently playing in the NBA is 30-year-old Duncan Robinson, an undrafted small forward from York, Maine. He plays for the Miami Heat in the NBA. Impressive, but again, never achieved the excitement that Cooper Flagg is providing right now.

What Does the Future Hold for Maine's Cooper Flagg?

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Right now, Cooper Flagg is shooting three-pointers over NBA star Anthony Davidson's head, going toe-to-toe with LeBron James, and making multiple buckets over future hall-of-famers. It is extraordinary watching this 17-year-old Mainer compete so fearlessly. We may not see him play at the Olympics, but fortunately we also won't have to wait long to see Flagg in action on a pro level.

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Flagg will be playing for Duke this year, and then afterward, it is projected that he will be the #1 NBA Draft pick in 2025. In the meantime, this author has been inspired by this young, talented, Mainer. Age really is just a number, and hard work breeds a no fear attitude. Time to get to work like Cooper.

10 Cities That Need An NBA Team

There have been rumors swirling for years that the NBA is looking to expand. The last time the league expanded, is when it added the Charlotte Bobcats back in 2004.

Now, as we often do every offseason, we're wondering where the NBA would add a team if it were to expand? Would it be a brand new market? Add an additional team to a large market? Or bring a team back to an old market?

Let's look at the most likely possibilities, and cities that deserve an NBA team!

Gallery Credit: Cort Freeman