Latest news with #Boozer
Miami Herald
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Columbus basketball star Cameron Boozer named Gatorade Best Male Player of the Year
Recently graduated Columbus basketball superstar Cameron Boozer was named the 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, and
USA Today
17-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Cameron Boozer called Duke 'overlooked,' and I can't wait to hate again
I'm going to share something in confidence this morning and all I ask in return is for it not to be thrown in my face at a later date: I was kinda rooting for Duke last season. I know, I know. It pains me to admit as much as it pains you to read, but hear me out. I wasn't directly rooting for the Blue Devils. Growing up a Terps fan, I hated them as much as anyone. The problem is I just really enjoyed watching Cooper Flagg play basketball. So, while I didn't actually care about the result of their games, my hope of seeing a great Flagg performance was, by extension, me rooting for Duke. I feel gross even typing that. It brings me immeasurable shame, only eased by the suspicion that my split interests weren't unique last college basketball season. A lot of us hate Duke. A lot of us also enjoy great players -- and Flagg was able to have one of the greatest freshman seasons ever without being that traditional Duke brand of dislikable. Those two things were hard to reconcile. Luckily, today, I have good news for those of us who want to restore the feeling: the Boozer twins are here. Specifically, I'm talking about Cameron Boozer, the five-star kid of Carlos who was named the Gatorade National Athlete of the Year last night at the ESPYs. He wasn't given time for a speech, and judging by a recent interview he gave ESPN, that was probably for the best. Because diving into that story this morning, I couldn't believe what I was reading. Boozer actually let these words come out of his mouth about Duke: "I think we're very overlooked right now, but once the season starts, that'll change for sure. ... I think just playing together, playing hard, defending, competing, we're going to be in a spot to get [to the Final Four] just like they did last year." Excuse me, what?? Duke... overlooked!? Next thing you know he'll be telling me about the uphill battle he faced to become a top prospect as the son of a former NBA All-Star. I know a Cowboys-Lakers-Yankees fan when I hear one. ESPYS: 16 fabulous photos from the red carpet This is nonsense of course. Nobody is overlooking Duke. The Blue Devils just played in the national championship game and they have the third-best odds (+1300) at BetMGM to win next year's title. Though the team is moving forward without Flagg and its other freshman standouts lost to the draft, Duke once again brought in the top recruiting class, which is simply the new normal down there in Durham. That class includes two other five-star players, Boozer's four-star twin Cayden, and the crowned jewel himself, Cameron -- a projected top-three pick in Bryan Kalbrosky's early 2026 NBA mock draft. At this point, we just expect Duke to be good every year. If Flagg said something similar last summer, forgive me for missing it. I would have reacted the same way. But thank you, Cameron Boozer, for bringing me to my senses. Comments like that are an easy way to make sure I never get caught slipping again. 2026 NBA Mock Draft While Cameron Boozer is a top-three pick in BK's new mock, he isn't the projected No. 1 pick. That distinction belongs to AJ Dybantsa of BYU (still weird to think about), who Bryan has landing in Utah, because of course: "The Jazz have an obvious plan as they enter this phase of their rebuild process after losing key rotation players like John Collins, Collin Sexton, and Jordan Clarkson. They're trying to get a high draft pick, and the connections to AJ Dybantsa are obvious. The 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup MVP transferred to prep school in Utah before committing to BYU, where Jazz governor Ryan Smith and CEO Danny Ainge are both alumni and donors. Dybantsa would pair well on the wing with talented Utah rookie Ace Bailey." BK is the best draft prognosticator in the game, so definitely check out his early mock to familiarize yourself with some of the top names to be on the lookout for. The NFL has a 2nd-round pick crisis NFL training camps are due to begin soon, but 30 of the 32 players selected in the second round of April's draft have yet to ink contracts with their respective teams. As FTW's Christian D'Andrea wrote, the reason might have to do with the guaranteed deals of the two players who did sign: "The answer may lie in Schwesinger and Higgins' contracts. The two signed fully guaranteed deals -- the first time that's happened under the NFL's most recent collective bargaining agreement (CBA) signed in 2020. Higgins received four years and $11.7 million. Schwesinger got four years and $11.8 million. While there's no one official reason for this rash of holdouts, the most likely culprit is that teams don't want to dole out all those guarantees." Here's more of the context of that from Christian, including the names of all 30 players still holding out. Quick Hits: Mahomes on Flagg ... Klagan?? ... and more Thanks for reading. We'll be back next week with more. This was For The Win's daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here.
USA Today
27-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2026 NBA mock draft: Son of famous forward is a top-3 pick
The 2025 NBA Draft JUST ended, with grades for all the draft classes in and undrafted free agents signing. But it's not too early to read 2026 NBA mock drafts. There are a few of them out on Friday, and there's some consensus among them. After look at a mock from USA TODAY Sports, one from CBS Sports, another from ESPN and an SB Nation mock, there's one familiar name that keeps popping up: Cam Boozer, who's the son of Carlos Boozer who's joining Duke along with his twin brother Cayden Boozer. Here's the ESPN take on him going to the Nets with a projected No. 3 pick: Boozer is one of the most productive high school players we've ever seen, with a winning résumé unmatched by any prospect in recent memory. He has an elite feel for the game, and can handle, pass, shoot and guard every position. He brings relentless physicality, crashes the glass and takes pride in dominating his matchups inside. His outside shooting has significantly improved in the past year, as well. Boozer's first-year production could rival Cooper Flagg's, which would clearly set him up as a legitimate candidate for National Player of the Year honors, even if some NBA executives question his long-term upside.
Miami Herald
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Cameron Boozer, Sydney Wilson are the Miami-Dade 7A-4A Athletes of the Year
One is a generational talent. The other is a marvel of versatility in two sports less commonly seen these days at the high school level. Both Columbus' Cameron Boozer and Sydney Wilson, who became a basketball star at Miami High and a volleyball star at Mater Lakes, wrapped up careers, which will long be remembered at their respective schools. And as such, they are the 2024-25 Miami Herald Miami-Dade County Athletes of the Year for Classes 7A-4A. Boozer wins the Male Athlete of the Year award for the second time in his career, after winning it as a sophomore. It's one of numerous accolades that Boozer has garnered over a historic career that has him on a path to the NBA with a stop for at least one year at Duke University. Boozer, a 6-10 forward with the agility and shooting range of a guard, and his brother, Cayden, elevated the Columbus program to new heights. Boozer helped the Explorers become the second Dade team to win four consecutive state championships and the first to be voted national champions following their triumph at the Chipotle Nationals this past April. Boozer has been named Mr. Florida Basketball and the Gatorade National Player of the Year twice during his career. Boozer and his brother, Cayden, who is also headed to Duke, were both McDonald's All-Americans, and members of Team USA's gold medal-winning Under-16 and Under-17 teams. Boozer averaged 21.1 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.6 steals per game over his four-year career at Columbus and led the Explorers to a 109-13 record over that span. He and his brother had their numbers retired at the school, after they helped Columbus make history. 'We really appreciate Columbus because they welcomed us and you really can feel the brotherhood here,' Boozer said earlier this year. Wilson proved to be a skilled athlete at multiple sports from a young age. But it was her work ethic that made her stand out even more on the court and in the classroom. In addition to her athletic honors, Wilson was recently named the Miami Herald's Girls' Scholar-Athlete of the Year. In the fall, Wilson helped Mater Lakes Academy make history, leading the Bears to their first appearance in the state finals and earning first team All-Dade honors. She was one of the most versatile hitters and setters in the state, and finished this past fall with 268 kills, 61 aces, 286 digs and 191 assists. Wilson then followed it up in basketball at Miami High. She was part of two state semifinalist basketball teams at Miami High and earned Miami Herald Co-Player of the Year honors this past season after leading the Stingarees to the regional finals in Class 7A. She was one of the county and state's best point guards, averaging nearly eight assists per game. Wilson, who has signed with FIU, joins her older sister, Joelle, as Miami Herald Overall Athlete of the Year winners. 'It's just putting in the work early on and getting the fundamentals down,' Wilson said earlier this year. In basketball, Wilson was one of the best point guards in the state averaging nearly eight assists per game. BOYS' FINALISTS ▪ Cayden Boozer, Columbus (basketball): Like his brother, Cameron, Boozer was an integral part of the Explorers' historic run to four consecutive state championships and was ranked among the top 20 prospects in the country overall as a point guard. ▪ Terrence Honeywood, Norland (football, track and field): An accomplished track and field athlete, Honeywood was a state qualifier in both the 110-meter and 400-meter hurdles. He was also a versatile athlete, who played multiple positions on the Vikings' football team. Honeywood was a big-play receiver, catching 39 passes for 867 yards and had three interceptions on defense. ▪ Shaddai Carter, Columbus (football, track and field): Carter became a force on defense and special teams for the Explorers' football team, which advanced to the state semifinals. He followed up in the spring by leading Columbus' track team to a state title, winning a state title in the 400-meter relay and posting the best marks in the county in the long jump and triple jump. ▪ Ryan Miret, Southridge (football, wrestling): Miret made a huge splash on the wrestling mat, winning a state title in the heavyweight division and going undefeated. He was also a key cog on the Spartans' offensive line, helping Southridge advance to the Class 6A state semifinals. ▪ Marcelo Mantecon, Belen (cross-country, track and field): Mantecon joined the long-lasting tradition of Wolverines' cross-country, winning a state individual title. He then followed that success during track season, winning the state title in the 3,200 meters and the 3,200-meter relay. GIRLS' FINALISTS ▪ Anabela Abdullah, Doral (softball): A University of Texas signee, Abdullah thrilled fans with her spectacular glove at shortstop and added more power this season to finish her junior year with 16 home runs. Her efforts helped Doral win its second-ever state championship. ▪ Mya Bethel, North Miami (wrestling): Bethel capped an undefeated career in wrestling by winning another state championship and cementing her status as one of the greatest of all-time in Dade in her sport. ▪ Daniela Fraga, Lourdes (cross-country, track and field): A consistent runner in both cross-country and on the track, Fraga earned first team All-Dade honors in the fall and followed up by earning second-team honors in the spring. ▪ Sarah Breaux, Doral (softball): Breaux established herself as one of the best hitters in the state in recent memory and did so again this season to lead the Firebirds to a state title. She is headed to Clemson.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Duke Announces Exciting News on Cameron Boozer's Dad
Duke Announces Exciting News on Cameron Boozer's Dad originally appeared on Athlon Sports. In a show of Blue Devil pride, Duke University has taken to X to congratulate former Duke legends Carlos Boozer and Kenny Dennard on their victory at the 2025 K Academy Golf Championship on Saturday. Advertisement According to the official K Academy 2025 Golf Championship Cup Results, Boozer and Dennard teamed up to claim the title, with their Team PINEHURST beating out Team AUGUSTA 24-30. Team AUGUSTA was headlined by former Blue Devils Mike Gminski, Lee Melchionni and Gerald Henderson. Dennard starred at Duke from 1977 to 1981 and was a key contributor on the Blue Devils' 1978 squad that reached the NCAA championship game, losing to Kentucky. A McDonald's All-American in 1999, Boozer attended Duke University from 1999 to 2002, being named an ACC All-Freshman (2000), first-team All-ACC (2002), third-team All-American (2002) and an NCAA champion (2001). Advertisement He and his ex-wife, CeCe, have three children: Carmani and twins Cameron and Cayden, the latter two of whom have already committed to Duke in the class of 2025. Cameron Boozer was a two-time Florida Mr. Basketball and two-time Gatorade National Player of the Year (2023, 2025), averaging 21.1 points, 11.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and two blocks per game in his sophomore year. He led his team to three consecutive state titles from 2022-2024 and earned MVP honors at the FIBA U-17 World Cup (2024) and Under-16 Americas Championship (2023). Duke Blue Devils recruit Cameron Boozer© Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports A consensus five-star recruit and the No. 3 overall prospect in the Class of 2025, Cameron committed to Duke on October 11, 2024, joining his twin brother Cayden (No. 23 overall) in forming one of the nation's most celebrated recruiting duos. Advertisement His recruitment validated Duke's top-ranked 2025 class, which is expected to bring immediate impact under Coach Jon Scheyer. Related: 6-foot-11 College Basketball Recruit Makes Final Decision Related: Duke's Jon Scheyer Gets Major Recruiting News on Four-Star Recruit This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
