Boozer Dominates: Duke Freshman Earns Wooden Award!

College basketball saw an amazing year for freshmen, packed with incredible moments and reminders that staying healthy is key. While many talked about who would shine in the NBA, one player stood out above all: Duke’s Cameron Boozer. He wasn’t just the best newcomer; he was simply the best player in college basketball this season, earning him the prestigious Wooden Award.

This isn’t a new story for the Boozer family. We’ve known about Cameron since he was very young. Back in 2008, a special report told the story of his parents, Carlos and CC Boozer. They were trying to help their young son, Carmani, who had a serious blood disorder called sickle cell anemia. When no bone marrow matches were found, they turned to their unborn twins. Cameron and his twin brother Caden were conceived through IVF. After a tough 40-day treatment, Carmani was cured using blood from his brother’s umbilical cord. This experience gave Cameron and Caden a unique perspective. They grew up with a strong sense of purpose and a deep bond with their brother, keeping them humble even before they were top recruits or sons of an NBA star. Their main goal was simply to be good enough at sports to beat their older brother.

“He was the best player on the court. He was the point guard, the center. You could basically call him like a Nikola Jokic, but we all wanted to beat him.”

Cameron and his twin brother Caden led their high school team to four straight state championships and a national title. Cameron then took his game to the next level on the AAU circuits, earning Gatorade National Player of the Year twice, a feat only achieved by three other players since 1985. He was ranked as the third-best prospect in the 2026 class, a spot many forget he once held above current NBA star Cooper Flagg before Flagg reclassified.

The 6’9″ Boozer quickly showed he was a force, much like his NBA All-Star father. While his dad was a traditional post player, Cameron showed his shooting range early. In one early-season game, four of his eight made shots were three-pointers, leading to a 25-point performance. He scored 35 points twice before November ended, including a win against fellow freshman star Darius Acuff Jr. and Arkansas. But Duke needed more from Boozer than just scoring. He led the team in points, rebounds, and assists, and was second in steals, showing his all-around impact.

Boozer’s all-around play reminded many of Ben Simmons’s freshman year at LSU. However, Duke’s season was much more successful than Simmons’s Tigers. Even in tough losses to ranked teams like Texas Tech and rival North Carolina, where Duke lost by a combined three points, Boozer put up huge numbers. He balanced his strong inside game with smart outside shooting, making him a difficult player to guard. Advanced stats loved his performance, and it was clear he played to win.

Both Boozer twins are great passers, but Cameron, being five inches taller, has a better view of the court from the forward position. In a February game against then number one Michigan, he didn’t force shots, taking only 10 but dishing out seven assists with just one turnover. With four fouls and Duke up by one late in the game, Boozer scored seven points in just 90 seconds to secure the win. This victory helped Duke reach the number one ranking in the AP poll for the first time that season.

“I’m just proud of my guys. That’s a great team. We battled them. They’re strong and they’re physical, but we’re also strong and physical. So, uh, I love games like this. Our team loves it. You see them celebrating back there. It’s a great win for us.”

Duke didn’t slow down after reaching number one. They handed Notre Dame its worst home loss since 1898, with Boozer scoring 20 points in the first half alone. They followed that with wins by 26 and 29 points before hosting rival North Carolina. Despite UNC missing a key player, Boozer and the Blue Devils got their revenge for an earlier loss, winning by a large margin at home. Boozer led the way with 26 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists in that crucial rivalry game.

Before even playing North Carolina, Boozer made history. He became the first Division I freshman in 30 years to record at least 650 points, 300 rebounds, and 100 assists before the conference tournament. He continued his strong play in the ACC tournament, helping Duke win their third title in four years. But the ultimate goal for Duke is a national championship, something Boozer hopes to achieve, just like his dad who had a double-double in Duke’s 2001 national title win.

Many star freshmen have come to Duke in the one-and-done era but haven’t reached the national championship game. The exception was the 2014-15 team that won Duke’s most recent title. Boozer joins a list of incredible players like Cooper Flagg, Paolo Banchero, Zion Williamson, and Jayson Tatum who had brilliant college careers but didn’t win a national title. However, Boozer did achieve something special by winning the Wooden Award, following in the footsteps of past Duke winners like Shane Battier and Jason Williams. His Wooden Award win, alongside Cooper Flagg’s, shows that Coach Jon Scheyer’s era at Duke can still produce top talent, even if players don’t stay as long.

Now, Boozer looks to the NBA, aiming to follow in the path of Duke alumni who have won NBA championships. He’s watched players like Jayson Tatum and Kyrie Irving win titles, but his role might be more like his dad’s former teammates. Boozer’s basketball IQ and his ability to impact the game in many ways – scoring inside, shooting from deep, or playing defense – could make him a supercharged version of Shane Battier. And we know a former National Player of the Year like Battier can have a long, successful NBA career, winning championships along the way.

Source: Cameron Boozer adds himself to a record-setting list of Duke greats | Wooden Award Spotlight (YouTube)