Cooper Flagg, a freshman at Duke University, has just dribbled into history as the first NCAA men's basketball player to sign an NIL (name, image, and likeness) deal with Gatorade, the sports drink conglomerate confirmed yesterday. This partnership is not just a free throw into the sports marketing world but a slam dunk for Flagg, who at just a few months on campus, has quickly risen to prominence in the college basketball arena.
Selected as the Gatorade Men’s Player of the Year in 2024 and projected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Flagg's talents have been noted ever since he led Montverde Academy to a flawless 34-0 season, as CBS 17 reports. His recent deal with Gatorade integrates him into a roster of talented college athletes, including names like Paige Bueckers of UConn and Shedeur Sanders of Colorado, highlighting the broadened scope of collegiate athletics endorsements post the 2021 NIL policy change.
Flanking his performance on the court, Flagg's Gatorade deal signals his commercial appeal. "This has been a big year for me on and off the court, and Gatorade has been there the whole way," Flagg told Sports Illustrated. Gatorade's global head of sports marketing, Jeff Kearney, echoed this sentiment, expressing confidence in Flagg's potential, saying, "Cooper is an incredible talent who quickly emerged as one of the best young athletes in the nation, and we know he has a bright future ahead of him." Kearney's thoughts were obtained by CBS 17.
It's no surprise Duke tops the preseason favorite to win the Atlantic Coast Conference, thanks in big part to Flagg. As a versatile 6-foot-9 forward, he has already showcased his on-court prowess during Duke's exhibition games. The anticipation for Flagg's official debut is palpable, with the season opener against Maine—Flagg’s home state—scheduled for November 4 at Cameron Indoor Stadium, according to The Duke Chronicle.
