Cooper Flagg’s Family: All About the Duke Basketball Star's Parents and Siblings

Basketball is a family party Flagg.

Parents of Duke University Basketball, Cooper Flagg, Kelly Bowman Flagg and Ralph Flagg, are both former college basketball players and continued to raise three sons who love sports.

Kelly and Ralph have been married since the early 2000s and welcomed their first son Hunter in 2004 (his twin, Ryder, died two days after he was born.) Two years later, Cooper and his twin brother, Ace, arrived. The couple raised their family in Newport, Maine, and the boys played basketball at the driveway of any chance.

“We couldn’t play a game on our driveway without anyone bleeding,” Ace told New Center Maine in April 2025. “The game would end if someone was running in a shout at my mom, but that was always fun.”

Today, Ace, a triple high school champion, has committed himself to the University of Maine, and Cooper, who is scheduled to be the total number of number 1 on NBA draft 2025, had an impressive first season at Duke University.

Blue devils are currently fighting for the NCAA title and will face the Houston Cougars on April 5 in Final Four.

“[Cooper is] Best child. That’s all I can say, is he just a good person and a good boy. I am very, very proud of him, “Kelly said in March 2025.

Here’s all you have to know about the Cooper Flagg family, including his parents, Kelly and Ralph and his two brothers, Hunter and Ace.

Kelly and Ralph played college basketball

Cooper Flagg, Kelly Flagg and Ralph Flagg participate in awards 2024. ESPY 11. July 2024. In Hollywood, California.

Kevin Mazur/Getty

Cooper is a product of two college basketball players.

Kelly played for the University of Maine in the late 1990s. She and her teammates for the 1998-99 season made the history of Umaine basketball, when they won the first NCAA tournament game in the program, upset Stanford University.

2021. The team was introduced into the school sports hall of celebrities. “It was a special time! So proud and honored!” Kelly wrote on X on the eve of the ceremony.

As for Ralph, he played basketball for the college of Eastern Maine Community College.

The couple met shortly after college and led themselves for their love for basketball. When they played one-on-one, Ralph told ESPN that he couldn’t stop her.

“She was quite deadly with that,” he told the socket 2024. “And a fierce competitor.”

Kelly and Ralph welcomed four children including Cooper

Cooper Flagg while answering questions with his father Ralph, brother Ace and mom Kelly on December 12, 2024 in Durham in North Carolina.

Ethan Hyman/News and Observer/Tribune News Service via Getty

Ralph and Kelly got married in the early 2000s and founded their family.

Kelly got pregnant with the twins, but complications appeared when she started a premature birth in 24 weeks. The couple welcomed the sons of Hunter and Ryder on August 4, 2004. Ryder died two days later, and Hunter was in the unit of neonatal intensive care for 109 days.

Flaggs lived in Newport at the time, Maine – 90 minutes from the Maine Medical Center in Portland, where Kelly gave birth. So, the new mom remained in Ronald McDonald’s local house until Hunter was healthy enough to go home.

“I never left Portland,” Tuscon.com told. “After Hunter was born, I said,” I’m not leaving without him. “Being three minutes, instead of an hour and a half, was huge.”

Ralph and Kelly eventually decided to have more children. After a few cycles of IVF, Kelly got pregnant again with the twins. The couple welcomed Ace and Cooper on December 21, 2006.

Cooper grew up in the gym with Ralph

Cooper Flagg captures the Polaroid photo of his father Ralph, brother Asa and Mama Kelly after a holiday gathering on December 12, 2024 in Durham in North Carolina.

Ethan Hyman/News and Observer/Tribune News Service via Getty

At a young age, Cooper showed an immense promise on the basketball ground. Received his first offer for a basketball scholarship in eighth grade, Bangor Daily NewsAnd he skipped his older year high school to attend the Duke.

Cooper has raw talents, but Blue Devil Nation said in January 2025 that his father always played a big role in his growth as a basketball player.

“Return to the gym with her father [is how I stay ready]”He said.” I grew up in the gym with my father. Late nights, early morning, just recovering for me. ”

Ace has committed to the University of Maine, where Hunter attends school

Twins Cooper (L) and Ace Flagg High-Five during the game against the CATS Boston Academy at Portland Expo.

Ben McCanna/Portland Press Herald via Getty

Cooper’s brothers have also seen some success in basketball over the years.

In 2022, Hunter, Ace and Cooper played in the same team in the Nokomis Regional High School in Maine, and the trio led the squad to the national championship.

Two years later, Ace helped his team at the Montverde Academy in Florida to secure the national championship, and recently ran the Greensboro School in North Carolina to the State title in February 2025.

“I’m proud of him,” Cooper said during a press conference shortly after Greensboro’s big victory. “[Ace] He received three national championships in three different countries through his high school career, so it’s pretty cool. ”

Ace will continue his basketball career at the University of Maine – where Hunter is currently working on a sports management degree, Per LinkedIn.

Kelly and Ralph are superstitious

Kelly Flagg and Ralph Flagg watch their twins Cooper and Ace play for the Montverde Academy on January 5, 2024 in Portland Maine.

Andrew Dickinson to Washington Post via Getty

Kelly and Ralph are the biggest fans of their sons – and take their basketball superstition very seriously.

In March 2025. Kelly told people that she had to sit in the same seat for every game, and Ralph “can’t wear Spirit Gear in the days of the game.”

“I like to sit in the same person or in the same order of sitting,” she explained, adding, “[Ralph]In the days of the game, it carries everything but Duke equipment. ”

Kelly and Ralph became viral at the ACC tournament 2025.

Mom Kelly Flagg Cooper Flagg; Cooper Flagg #2 from Duke Blue Devils watches during the game 03. March 2025 in Durham, North Carolina.

ESPN/TICTOK; Grant Halverson/Getty

During the ACC tournament in March 2025, Cooper made a double dug against Duke’s largest rival, North Carolina University. The audience was raging and Kelly, who was seen patting her head in the celebration and shouting, “On her head. On his f —— head!”

Kelly’s excitement recordings in the stands became viral on social media, and many thought her actions were poor taste. She later climbed on Facebook and semi -coupled.

“I want to apologize to anyone who has been offended by my language that has been caught in the celebratory moment. I realize that this is not my best look,” Kelly wrote before adding, “[It was] The moment to be so proud of our child, and also a large FL, on the whole base of the Caroline fans because you are without a class. ”

“If you are a UNC fan and you don’t like it … hard,” she continued. “Go Duke.”

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Source: HIS Education