Ace Flagg, born just one minute before Cooper, has carved out his own winning path.
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Everyone knows Cooper Flagg — the Duke basketball superstar and projected No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA draft.
But, have you been introduced to his twin brother — Ace?
Ace Flagg, born only a minute before Cooper, has created his own successful path, marked by intense competition, relocations across the country, and three state championship victories in three different states.
A Winning Legacy
Greensboro Day School is a powerhouse in North Carolina high school basketball, racking up six state championships since 2015.
The winning culture is exactly what drew Ace to the program for his senior season while his twin brother Cooper took his talents to Duke.
Ace helped lead Greensboro Day to its 13th state title in February and added his name to the program’s legacy.
Ace expressed his joy in being part of a remarkable team this year, highlighting the special bond they shared. Winning a state championship at the end of his high school journey was a truly memorable experience for him, one that he will treasure forever.
From Maine to Florida to the Tar Heel State
The Flagg twins grew up in Newport, Maine, where their competitive fire was first sparked during heated driveway matchups.
“We couldn’t play a game in our driveway without someone bleeding. It was terrible. I mean, every single time, there would be fist fights,” Ace said.
During seventh grade, Ace recognized his potential in basketball. Following a state championship win at Nokomis Regional High School, the brothers switched to Montverde Academy in Florida for their sophomore and junior years.
Cooper moved up a year and headed to Duke early. Ace went his own way, choosing Greensboro Day for his final high school season.
Three Titles, Three States
Ace Flagg’s collection of state championships stretches across three states—Maine, Florida, and North Carolina. Each victory strengthens his claim as the better twin.
“It’s a great feeling, just to know that I’ll hold that over my little brother all day for the rest of my life, and you know he just won’t be able to get it back, so that’s on him,” Ace said.
Ace is heading back up north after high school. He’s committed to playing at the University of Maine.
A Bond Beyond Basketball
The bond between the brothers runs deeper than basketball.
“We’ve never really been that sentimental about the game, and we don’t sit down after we play and have talks about it, what we thought we should have done better or worse,” Ace said. “We’re still talking, we’re playing video games together, we’re just FaceTiming, talking about other stuff that’s going on. I’d say a lot of our talks kind of stay away from basketball with each other, and just [are] a lot more personal.”
Though this will be the first time the twins are in different states, Ace won’t be alone. His older brother Hunter will be at the University of Maine with him.
“It’s going to be an adjustment. Luckily, now that Cooper will be somewhere else, I’ll have my older brother Hunter, who I haven’t been around. He’ll be at the University of Maine with me, so kind of come to just switching off brothers for a little bit,” Ace said.
Next Stop: San Antonio
For now, Ace and the Flagg family are in San Antonio, supporting Cooper and the Blue Devils in their chase for a national title.
While Cooper may be on the biggest stage in college basketball, Ace remains confident that he still has the upper hand in one-on-one.
“They called me the ‘Cooper-Stopper’ at Montverde. That’s what my name was. Any time we played, I would always get a stop on him,” Ace said.
