Cooper’s Legacy Cast in Bronze: A Maine Town Immortalizes Its Hometown Hero After Record-Breaking Duke Career

..n their parents’ shoulders. Local news vans lined the streets. And at the center of it all stood a gleaming bronze statue of a young man in motion—eyes forward, arms wide, a basketball just leaving his fingertips.

The plaque at the base read simply: “Cooper. Freeport’s Finest. Duke Legend. Forever One of Us.”

To some, the statue was a surprise. To anyone who’s followed the meteoric rise of Cooper [last name], it was an inevitability. From a quiet childhood on Maine’s coast to becoming one of the most electrifying players in Duke University basketball history, Cooper’s story is one of talent, work ethic, and an unwavering connection to his roots. Now, with his collegiate legacy cemented in the NCAA record books and a professional career on the horizon, the town that first believed in him has immortalized their star for generations to come.

This is the story of how a boy from a small Maine town became a national sensation—and how that town chose to say thank you.

Early Days in Freeport: Humble Beginnings

Cooper’s earliest basketball memories aren’t of packed stadiums or roaring crowds. They’re of shooting hoops on the cracked pavement behind his elementary school, or practicing free throws late into the evening under the dim glow of the streetlight near his family’s home.

“He was obsessed,” recalls Tara Wilkins, Cooper’s middle school PE teacher. “While other kids played tag or tossed footballs, he’d have a basketball in his hands. Always. Even during recess in the snow.”

Freeport isn’t the kind of place that churns out college basketball stars. With a population of just over 8,000 and a high school gym that barely seats 500, the town is known more for L.L. Bean than for buzzer-beaters. But for those who saw Cooper play during his freshman year at Freeport High, it was clear something special was brewing.

“He dropped 34 points in his varsity debut,” said Coach Matt Haskell. “We knew right then—this kid wasn’t just good. He was different.”

The Rise to National Recognition

By his junior year, Cooper was already drawing the attention of Division I scouts. Word spread fast in basketball circles: a lanky, sharp-shooting guard from Maine with court vision years beyond his age. ESPN ran a feature. Highlight reels surfaced on YouTube. Suddenly, Freeport wasn’t just a dot on the map—it was the hometown of the most talked-about high school player in the Northeast.

His senior year brought national attention. Averaging 31.4 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds per game, Cooper led Freeport High to its first state championship in school history. He was named Maine’s Mr. Basketball and a McDonald’s All-American, becoming the first ever from the state to receive that honor.

Despite offers from Kentucky, Kansas, and UCLA, Cooper shocked the recruiting world when he committed to Duke.

“He said he wanted to be part of something bigger,” said his mother, Rachel [last name]. “He loved Duke’s tradition. He wanted to be challenged.”

Breaking Records at Duke

Cooper arrived at Duke with expectations sky-high. The pressure was immense. But true to form, he never flinched. In his freshman season, he averaged 17.8 points and 6.2 assists, earning ACC Freshman of the Year honors. But it was his sophomore and junior years that redefined greatness.

By the end of his junior season, Cooper had:

• Become Duke’s all-time leader in career assists.
• Set the ACC record for three-pointers in a single season.
• Earned back-to-back All-American selections.
• Led Duke to two Final Fours and one national title game appearance.

But more than the stats, it was his style—smooth, unselfish, electric—that won over fans.

“He made everyone around him better,” said Duke head coach Jon Scheyer. “He was our engine, our heart. But he never made it about him.”

A Town That Never Let Go

While his name was chanted in Cameron Indoor and featured on ESPN highlight reels, back in Freeport, Cooper remained simply “our guy.”

He returned every summer, hosting youth camps at the high school gym. He donated shoes, jerseys, and equipment to the local teams. He showed up to surprise Little League games, posed for selfies at the grocery store, and quietly paid off lunch debts at the local elementary school.

“He never forgot where he came from,” said Mayor Linda Bartlett. “That’s why we had to do something special. Not just for who he is on the court—but for who he’s always been off of it.”

The Idea for the Statue

It started as a whisper—an idea tossed around by a few local business owners and community members. Could Freeport really commission a statue for a 21-year-old?

But as Cooper continued to rack up accolades, the town’s enthusiasm grew. A fundraising campaign was launched, and within six months, over $350,000 had been raised through private donations, bake sales, charity tournaments, and one very popular “Cooper Cookie” at the local bakery.

Sculptor Ellie Timmons, a Maine native and former basketball player herself, was selected to design the piece.

“I wanted to capture that split-second moment,” Timmons said. “Right after he releases the ball—complete confidence in his shot, total poise. That’s Cooper.”

The Ceremony

The statue unveiling was timed for the weekend after Duke’s Elite Eight run in Cooper’s junior (and final) season. The town closed Main Street. Students from Freeport High lined the sidewalks with signs and banners. Local musicians played covers of Duke’s fight song, and kids sported #3 jerseys—his iconic number.

Cooper stood alongside his family, clearly moved, as the tarp was pulled away. The crowd erupted.

For a few moments, he was speechless. Then, taking the mic, he did what he always does—shifted the spotlight.

“This isn’t just for me,” he said, voice cracking slightly. “This is for every kid in this town who dreams big. This is for my coaches, my family, my teachers. Freeport made me who I am. This will always be home.”

More Than a Statue

The statue wasn’t the only honor.

The town also renamed the high school gym “Cooper Arena.” A new scholarship fund, the Cooper Foundation, was launched to support underprivileged student-athletes in Maine. And the first annual Cooper Classic youth basketball tournament was announced, set to bring in teams from across New England each summer.

“These aren’t just gestures,” said Mayor Bartlett. “They’re investments in legacy. In the kind of inspiration Cooper provides every single day.”

A Future Still Being Written

As of this writing, Cooper has declared for the NBA Draft. Projections place him firmly in the lottery. Whichever team lands him will be getting more than just a basketball star—they’ll be getting a leader, a role model, and someone who brings the values of a small Maine town wherever he goes.

Back in Freeport, the statue now stands as a beacon—a reminder that greatness can come from anywhere, and that even the biggest stars never outgrow their hometowns.

“I walk past that statue every morning on the way to school,” said Mia Chen, a ninth-grader at Freeport High. “It reminds me to dream big. If Cooper can do it, maybe I can too.”

And that’s exactly the point.

Epilogue: Cooper’s Words

At the end of the ceremony, as the sun began to dip behind the church steeple and kids swarmed for autographs, Cooper lingered at the statue. He traced the edge of the ball in bronze, smiled, and posed for one last photo with his high school teammates.

Later, when asked what the moment meant to him, he said:

“I hope this statue isn’t just about what I did—but about what’s possible. I want every kid who sees it to believe they can make it, too. Not because I’m special, but because this town believed in me before the world did.”

Freeport did more than believe. They built a legacy—and cast it in bronze.

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