Cameron Boozer won’t be winning an NCAA title in his freshman year. That much is a certainty after his Duke Blue Devils were knocked out of the NCAA Tournament—aka March Madness—by the UConn Huskies on a wild game-winner by fellow freshman Braylon Mullin, who stole an errant pass from Cameron’s twin brother, Cayden.
NBA fans should know Cameron Boozer. That’s because he is among a handful of NCAA freshmen tipped to be a high pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, alongside prospects like AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson. The acclaim seems warranted, as Boozer put up 22.4 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 4.1 assists on 55.9% shooting. In Duke’s loss to UConn earlier today, he fired 27 points on top of 8 rebounds and 4 assists in yet another outstanding effort.
Boozer’s on-court production has matched the hype in a way, but that didn’t stop his father, former NBA player Carlos Boozer, from further hyping up his prospect of a son.
Is Cameron Boozer the Next Tim Duncan?
Earlier this year, the elder Boozer described Cameron Boozer as a “modern-day version” of Tim Duncan, which is high praise, indeed, if not a hot take. That’s because Duncan, aka The Big Fundamental, is an NBA legend with 5 championships, 3 MVPs, 15 All-NBA and All-Defensive selections, and 15 All-Star Games, to name a few of his accolades.
What’s more, the Spurs legend is widely viewed as a top 10 player of all time. Needless to say, Duncan’s shoes are pretty big to fill for anyone, including a prospect like Cameron Boozer.
In terms of style, Boozer and Duncan play the same position and somehow have the same skill set, although they’re technically in different categories. Boozer may thrive in posting up like Duncan, but he’s also a bruiser in the paint, while the latter was adept at punishing his opponents on the perimeter. That said, Boozer is projected to be a No. 1 overall pick, pretty much just like Timmy.
Scouting Reports Say Otherwise
A 6-foot-9 power forward with a bulky frame, an NBA-ready body, who can score at all three levels on or off the ball with good defense is a great pickup for any team. Sounds familiar? That’s because in every scouting report, Cam Boozer is sometimes compared to the likes of Aaron Gordon, Pascal Siakam, or a former Duke standout like himself, the 2022 first overall pick Paolo Banchero.
Boozer has upside in scoring. But like many 18-year-old athletes, he’s got so much to improve. He’s already a good post-up player, and his pedigree, skill, and physical tools are already top-notch for an NBA top pick. Even so, Boozer still has to work on how he can be effective as a rim protector and shot creator.
Now, as Cameron Boozer takes stock of his future after this crushing defeat in the Elite Eight, he must remember that he doesn’t have to be the next Tim Duncan, as his father suggested ever so vaguely. He doesn’t even need to follow his father’s footsteps, as Carlos was a pretty solid player in his own right, too. What Cameron Boozer needs to focus on is carving his own path, whether as the No. 1 overall pick, a top-five pick, or whatever.
