Columbus basketball star Cameron Boozer named Gatorade Best Male Player of the Year
Boozer, a two-time Gatorade National Basketball Player of the Year, is headed to Duke University this fall after a stellar prep career during which he became a McDonald's All-American and led the Explorers to four consecutive state championships and a national title his senior season.
Boozer was honored, along with Best Female Player of the Year award winner Jane Hedengren, a BYU track and field commit from Utah, at this week's ESPY Awards.
The pair were presented their awards for the nation's top high school sports honor by former two-time Gatorade National Girls Track and Field Player of the Year Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and 2005-06 Gatorade Texas Football Player of the Year and Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Boozer joins an elite group of athletes to have one this award, which includes Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, former WNBA star Candace Parker and recent No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick Cooper Flagg.
Boozer, along with his brother, Cayden, who is also headed to Duke, helped turn Columbus into a national basketball powerhouse over the past four years.
Boozer, a 6-10 senior power forward led the Explorers to a 30-3 record this past season and to Miami-Dade County's first national title in boys' basketball. He averaged 22.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.5 blocks.
Boozer also was a Naismith Trophy Award semifinalist, the Florida Dairy Farmers' Mr. Basketball Award winner, and a member of Team USA's Nike Hoop Summit squad.
Boozer, who also maintains a 4.82 weighted GPA, is ranked as the nation's No. 2 recruit in this year's class by 247Sports, Rivals.com and On3.com.
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