Brian Scalabrine Discovered Cooper Flagg Before Anyone Else—And the Story Is Wild…Read More….

Brian Scalabrine Discovered Cooper Flagg Before Anyone Else—And the Story Is Wild…Read More….

In a twist no one saw coming, former NBA forward and fan-favorite personality Brian Scalabrine is now being credited with one of the most unexpected “discoveries” in recent basketball history — spotting Cooper Flagg’s superstar potential long before the hype, long before the viral clips, and long before NBA scouts were packing into gyms to watch him dominate. And the story of how it happened is even crazier than fans imagined.

According to Scalabrine, his first encounter with Flagg wasn’t at a high-profile camp, an elite AAU showcase, or even a televised high school tournament. Instead, it happened at a low-key offseason workout session in Boston — the kind of quiet gym where young players try to get reps in without attracting attention. Scalabrine had been invited by a trainer to help run drills for a group of up-and-coming prospects. Among them, barely known outside of Maine, was a skinny kid with a buzz cut and an intensity that stood out the moment he stepped onto the court.

Scalabrine remembers it vividly. “This kid is blocking everyone’s shot,” he recalled. “He’s diving on the floor for loose balls in an empty gym. He’s talking trash to players four years older than him — good players! I’m looking around like… does anyone else see what I’m seeing?”

What he saw that day was the earliest version of the player who would eventually become the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, the rookie phenom now dominating headlines. But at that time, Flagg was just a freshman with very little national attention. Still, Scalabrine couldn’t shake the feeling that he was witnessing the beginning of something special.

After the session, The White Mamba sent a message to a scout friend saying, “I don’t know who this kid is, but he’s going to be an NBA player. Mark it down.” The scout laughed at the boldness — but Scalabrine doubled down. He even predicted Flagg would be a top-five draft pick before the rest of the country even knew his name.

Months later, Flagg exploded onto the national scene. His viral blocks, transition dunks, and high-IQ plays lit up basketball social media. Suddenly, his name was everywhere. And Scalabrine? He wasn’t shocked at all.

As Flagg climbed the rankings, ultimately becoming the top high school player in the nation, people began asking scouts when they first heard about him. To their surprise, more than one answered, “Honestly? Scalabrine told me before anyone else.”

Now, years later, as Flagg begins carving out his NBA career, Scalabrine’s wild early prediction is being celebrated as one of the most accurate “I saw him first” stories in modern basketball chatter. Even Flagg himself has acknowledged the moment, saying he remembers that workout clearly.

“He pushed me harder than anyone else in the gym,” Flagg said. “And he told me afterward that I had something rare. That meant a lot.”

From cult hero to unintentional talent scout, Brian Scalabrine’s unexpected role in Cooper Flagg’s rise has officially become part of basketball lore — and the story just keeps getting wilder.