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Bradley Beal 'cussed out' NBA prospect Cooper Flagg during 1-on-1 … – Sporting News
This story has been updated from a previous version.
High school phenom Cooper Flagg has been in the spotlight this summer and apparently, he’s not backing down from anyone.
The 16-year-old attended Jayson Tatum’s Elite Camp a few weeks back and according to Brian Scalabrine, who has worked out with the top high school prospect and Maine native, Flagg was going at it with Suns star Bradley Beal.
“I heard a rumor that my boy Cooper Flagg was at Jayson Tatum’s camp and he was busting Brad Beal 1-on-1, and Brad Beal got mad at him. Started cussing him out,” Scalabrine said on Tuesday’s Starting Lineup show on NBA Radio.
“This dude is a major trash-talker. … So I guess the rumor is that Brad Beal and him were squaring off 1-on-1 and Brad Beal was taking it lightly. It’s a high school kid. Then Cooper started giving it to him. And I guess the rumor is, Cooper started talking trash and Bradley Beal got mad. Really mad.”
Once Scalabrine’s story began to go viral, Beal jumped in the comments section on an Instagram post from “leaguealerts.” He replied with, “Huh?” two laughing emojis and two cap emojis, suggesting Scalabrine’s rumor was false.
A week later, when Flagg was mic’d up at Stephen Curry’s SC30 Camp, he cleared the air on the rumors about him and Beal.
“That was fake. Fake business. Me and Brad Beal never played 1-on-1. I got no beef with Brad,” Flagg intentionally said into the mic.
“Me and Brad Beal never played one-on-one. I got no beef with Brad.”
Cooper Flagg sets the record straight💯 @Cooper_Flagg pic.twitter.com/VxMmGSYAva
For those unfamiliar with Flagg, get to know the name. The 16-year-old is the No. 2-ranked player in the Class of 2025, but he is widely considered to be the best NBA prospect in all of high school basketball.
Flagg is a 6-8, 200-pound forward who can play both inside and out. On the perimeter, he’s a fluid athlete with wing skills, capable of creating his own shot, knocking down 3s and playmaking for his teammates. In the paint, he has smooth footwork, great court vision and soft touch, yet he’s aggressive and physical and protects the rim with an attitude.
After winning a state championship and Maine Gatorade Player of the Year as a freshman at Nokomis Regional in Newport, Maine, Flagg elected to transfer to high school basketball powerhouse Montverde Academy in Florida.
Flagg led Montverde to GEICO Nationals as a sophomore, but his team fell at the hands of potential 2024 NBA Draft No. 1 pick Matas Buzelis and Sunrise Christian Academy in the first round.
Flagg continued to show his dominance at Peach Jam this summer — the annual premier Nike Elite Youth Basketball Tournament. He averaged 25.4 points, 13.0 rebounds, 6.9 blocks and 5.7 assists over seven games, leading Maine United to a second-place finish behind the Class of 2025’s No. 1-ranked player Cam Boozer and Nightrydas Elite.
16-year-old Cooper Flagg continues to put up unreal numbers at @NikeEYB Peach Jam!
34 PTS, 20 REB, 10 BLK, 5 AST
37 PTS, 12 REB, 10 BLK, 6 AST
38 PTS, 16 REB, 12 BLK, 6 AST pic.twitter.com/WXZFjALWkR
Flagg’s name swept social media with two jaw-dropping triple-doubles, recording 38 points, 16 rebounds and 12 blocks in one game and 37 points, 12 rebounds and 10 blocks in another.