Ace Flagg (born December 21, 2006) is an American college basketball player for the Maine Black Bears. The 6-foot-7 forward is the twin brother of NBA number one pick Cooper Flagg.
Flagg was born in Newport, Maine, to Kelly (née Bowman) and Ralph Flagg. His mother was a standout basketball player at Nokomis Regional High School and later played for the University of Maine. She was tri-captain of the 1998âÂÂ99 Maine team that achieved the program's only NCAA tournament victory, defeating Stanford 60âÂÂ58. His father, Ralph, played college basketball at Eastern Maine Community College.
Flagg is the fraternal twin brother of Cooper Flagg, who played at Duke University and was selected first overall in the 2025 NBA draft by the Dallas Mavericks. The twins also have an older brother, Hunter, who attended the University of Maine.
Flagg began his high school career at Nokomis Regional High School in his hometown of Newport, Maine. As a freshman in 2021âÂÂ22, he played alongside his twin brother Cooper and helped lead the Warriors to their first-ever Maine Class A state championship.
Following their freshman season, the Flagg twins transferred to Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida. During his sophomore year (2022âÂÂ23), Flagg played limited minutes as the team featured numerous high-profile recruits. As a junior in 2023âÂÂ24, he appeared in 27 games and averaged 2.6 points and 1.3 rebounds per game while shooting 54% from the field. Montverde completed an undefeated season and won the Chipotle Nationals, the unofficial national high school championship.
For his senior year, Flagg transferred to Greensboro Day School in Greensboro, North Carolina, reuniting with legendary coach Freddy Johnson, who praised Flagg's leadership qualities. In February 2025, Flagg helped Greensboro Day School capture the NCISAA 3A state championship, contributing 11 points in a 46âÂÂ39 victory over Concord Academy. It marked Flagg's third state title in three different states during his high school career.
Flagg was rated as a three-star recruit in the class of 2025 by ESPN. He received scholarship offers from multiple Division I programs, including West Virginia, George Washington, Saint Joseph's, Florida Gulf Coast, and the University of Richmond.
On October 30, 2024, Flagg announced his commitment to the University of Maine via social media.
In his freshman season for the University of Maine, Flagg has averaged 5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds for the 7-21 Black Bears (through February 2026). He has inked three Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals and is popular with the hometown crowds.
Flagg is known for his versatility and basketball intelligence. At 6-foot-7, he can play both forward positions and is praised for his defensive abilities, rebounding, and passing skills. His trainer, Matt MacKenzie, has described him as a player who "puts his body on the line" and excels at the fundamental aspects of basketball, including taking charges, setting screens, and facilitating for teammates.