By Mark Bergin, WRAL senior multiplatform producer

Incoming Duke freshman basketball star Cooper Flagg is signing a shoe endorsement deal with New Balance, the company announced Monday.

But Flagg will wear Nike shoes during Duke games, practices and team activities per the school’s agreement with the sneaker giant, Duke Athletics said in a statement to WRAL Sports.

The school has been a Nike school since 1992. In 2015, the school signed a 12-year extension with Nike through 2027.

The financial terms of Flagg’s deal with New Balance weren’t disclosed in the company’s news release.

Flagg, 17, grew up in Newport, Maine, which is about 25 miles from New Balance’s manufacturing factory in Skowhegan, Maine.

“I grew up wearing New Balance, and I appreciate their authentic connection to my community,” Flagg said in a company-issued news release. “The focus and growth of the brand in basketball and our shared values and history drew me in.

“From day one, it was clear that this would be a family-like partnership. I’m so excited to join this family and help them grow the category with young athletes.”

The 6-foot-9 forward was the Gatorade National Player of the Year and Naismith Player of the Year.

Flagg is considered the No. 1 player in the 2024 class. He averaged 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 3.7 steals and 3.7 blocks per game in his senior season at Montverde Academy in Florida.

Cooper was among the 15 athletes named to the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s Select Team chosen to train with the USA Basketball Men’s National Team as they prepped for gold in the Paris Olympics. He was the only teenager and first collegiate player with the honor since 2013.

“Cooper adds so much to our basketball roster, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to the New Balance family,” said Naveen Lokesh, New Balance’s head of basketball sports marketing. “He is a force to be reckoned with on the court, and we look forward to building our relationship as he grows the game and supporting him in all his endeavors.”

NBA stars Kawhi Leonard, Jamal Murray, Zach LaVine, Dejounte Murray, Tyrese Maxey, Darius Garland and Aaron Nesmith are New Balance athletes. WNBA rookie Cameron Brink has also signed with the company.

Source: wralsportsfan.com