Duke's Cooper Flagg becomes the first NCAA men's basketball player to sign an NIL contract with Gatorade

As Duke men's basketball prepares to begin the regular season, its freshman phenom is getting some big news.

Cooper Flagg, the Blue Devils' 6-foot-9 forward, signs a NIL contract with Gatorade. He is the first college basketball player to join Gatorade's athletic roster.

“This has been a big year for me on and off the court, and Gatorade has been there the entire time,” Flagg said in a statement emailed to The Chronicle on Tuesday. “From being named Gatorade Male Player of the Year to officially joining the team, having my name mentioned alongside some of the biggest names in basketball was unreal. The Gatorade squad is iconic and I look forward to working with them as I take this next step.”

Flagg joins the prestigious Gatorade team that includes basketball players Caitlin Clark, Juju Watkins and Paige Bueckers, as well as Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders and former Blue Devil Jayson Tatum.

“Cooper is an incredible talent who has quickly become one of the best young athletes in the country, and we know he has a bright future ahead of him,” said Jeff Kearney, global head of sports marketing at Gatorade, in a statement Email The Chronicle: “At Gatorade, we work with the best of the best, so we are proud to welcome Cooper to the family and look forward to supporting him as he begins his college career.”

The 2024 Gatorade Player of the Year made a name for himself in the Blue Devils' first two exhibition games, scoring 22 and nine points, respectively. Duke begins its season Nov. 4 against Maine, Flagg's home state.