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USA Today
23-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Duke basketball signee Cameron Boozer joins LeBron James on esteemed list
Duke basketball signee Cameron Boozer joins LeBron James on esteemed list Duke Blue Devils basketball fans spent the last two years rooting for one of the most accomplished and anticipated prospects of the century thus far. Cooper Flagg looked like a lock for the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft even as a high-school senior, leading Montverde Academy to an undefeated season and a Chipotle Nationals title before winning the John R. Wooden Award as the nation's best college basketball player as a freshman. His replacement will bring an even more decorated resume to Durham. Cameron Boozer, a 6-foot-9 power forward from Florida, headlines the 2025 Duke basketball recruiting class, and he already can't fit all of his awards in a single trophy case. He helped Columbus High School match Flagg's Chipotle Nationals title, he was named co-MVP of the McDonald's All-American Game, and he was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year as a sophomore and as a senior. The accolade he earned this week might surpass all of those, however, since it places him in the same breath as NBA royalty. Boozer was named Mr. Basketball USA by on Monday, defeating Kansas commit Darryn Peterson and BYU commit AJ Dybantsa with eight first-place votes among 10 ballots to claim the award for the second time in three years. The last person to be named Mr. Basketball USA twice? Four-time NBA champion LeBron James, who won it in 2002 and 2003 before getting drafted with the first overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft straight out of high school. Boozer became the first sophomore to win the award in 2023, and he finished runner-up to Flagg in 2024, which eventually prevented the three-peat. "Yeah, it's crazy," Boozer said in a release announcing his award. "To be categorized with such a small group of guys who have won the award twice is an amazing feeling and hopefully I can do more winning at the next level and the one after that." MaxPreps credited Boozer with 22.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.5 blocks as a senior. He's third in the 247Sports' Class of 2025 rankings behind Peterson and Dybantsa.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Five-Star Recruit Turns Heads After Entering Transfer Portal
Following the conclusion of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, all the buzz has centered around the transfer portal. The final day to enter the portal is April 22, and it seems like big-name players have been entering on a daily basis. The new-look rosters for the 2025–2026 season are going to leave fans spinning, trying to figure out who's who. Advertisement When push comes to shove, teams are reloading in hopes of chasing down the Florida Gators, who defeated Houston to capture the NCAA Tournament title. On Monday, another big name entered the portal—this time from the Atlantic Coast Conference. Pete Nakos from On3 revealed that SMU transfer Yohan Traore has entered the NCAA transfer portal after stops at Auburn and UCSB. Upon the release of the news, some fans took to social media to share their thoughts. "He must've watched Jaden Toombs at the Chipotle Nationals," said one fan. "Trouble in Midlothian,"said another fan. Advertisement "What's going on in Waco?" mentioned one fan. "Trouble in Alamo Heights?" commented one fan. "One of the most disappointing prospects of the last 10 years," said one fan. "Garbage," said another fan. Southern Methodist Mustangs forward Yohan Traore (21).Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images He was the top-ranked player in Arizona by the end of his senior season. He originally committed to play at LSU, but after Will Wade was fired, he reopened his recruitment. He eventually chose Auburn over Gonzaga, Kansas, and Houston. Traore was ranked as the No. 5 center and No. 24 overall player in the class of 2022, per 247Sports. Advertisement After one season at Auburn, where he averaged just 9.9 minutes per game, he transferred to UCSB. There, he played in 30 games and led the team with 14.5 points per game. Before the 2024–2025 season, he transferred again—this time to SMU—where he started 16 of 32 games for the Mustangs and averaged just 6.1 points per game. Related: College Basketball Star JT Toppin Makes Career Decision After NCAA Tournament Loss Related: Former Five-Star Recruit Turns Heads After Entering Transfer Portal on Saturday
Miami Herald
13-04-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Columbus' Cameron and Cayden Boozer are Dade Boys' Basketball 7A-5A Players of the Year
Over four years, they helped transform Columbus' basketball program into a national powerhouse. And in the process, Cameron and Cayden Boozer backed up the hype that made them two of the top-rated basketball players in the country. They finished their careers in style recently winning their fourth state championship and securing that elusive national title when they led the Explorers to victory at Chipotle Nationals. As such, the Boozer twins are this year's Miami Herald Class 7A-5A Boys' Basketball Players of the Year for Miami-Dade County. The two are headed to Duke University together where they follow in the footsteps of their father, former NBA All-Star, Carlos Boozer. Cameron, a three-time prior winner of this award, capped one of the most decorated careers of any South Florida athlete all-time. Cameron, the No. 3-ranked overall prospect and top-ranked power forward prospect in the nation per 247Sports, averaged 22.1 points and 11.8 rebounds per game and showed off his versatility once again, also averaging 3.2 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. He earned Gatorade National Player of the Year honors for the second time in his career. He was also a McDonald's All-American, MaxPreps All-American and Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Florida winner just to name a few accolades. Cayden, who averaged 14.3 points and 7.2 assists per game, conducted the Explorers' up-tempo offense once again and also averaged 3.8 rebounds per game. Cayden, who ranks No. 4 nationally among point guards, also earned McDonald's All-American honors, took over in the Chipotle Nationals championship game, scoring 27 points to lead the Explorers to a 67-49 win over Dynamic Prep and the first ever title win in the event by a South Florida team. Columbus, ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps, is the first team in Dade history to end the season ranked No. 1 in the polls. 'This was the last thing we needed on our bucket list and now we're just celebrating,' Cameron Boozer said during a postgame interview with ESPN. 'This is super sweet after last year, we knew we wanted to win it all and we came back and did it.' The Boozer twins recently became the first athletes in Columbus' school history to have their jerseys retired. During their time there, they helped the Explorers become only the second team in county history to win four consecutive state championships. 'It's special and something we were dreaming about since we were freshmen,' Cayden Boozer said during a postgame interview that day with ESPN. 'To finish it the right way with the group we have is just an amazing feeling and doing it with my twin brother is a blessing.'
Miami Herald
13-04-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Columbus' Moran and Riviera Prep's Shahbaz are Dade Boys' Basketball Coaches of the Year
At Columbus, Andrew Moran supervised not just the extension of one of the dominant state championship stretches ever by a Miami-Dade County team, but a historic run to a national championship as well. And at Riviera Prep, challenges to their own state championship streak emerged long before they even first stepped on the court to prepare for the 2024-25 season. Bulldogs coach Anthony Shahbaz kept them on course and helped them reach the pinnacle once again. And so, Moran and Shahbaz are once again the Miami Herald's Miami-Dade County Boys' Basketball Coaches of the Year. Moran earns the honors for Classes 7A-5A after leading the Explorers to their fourth consecutive state championship. Columbus is only the second Miami-Dade County team to ever accomplish that feat, joining Miami Norland and stands one title away from tying the state record for longest state championship streak. The Explorers made history less than a month later, though, becoming the first South Florida school to win the Chipotle Nationals tournament and claim a national championship. Moran led the Explorers to a 145-34 record during his six seasons at Columbus and earned Naismith National Coach of the Year honors this past season. After guiding one of the most dominant squads in county history, featured by Duke signees Cameron and Cayden Boozer, Moran was officially introduced this past week as one of the new assistant coaches at the University of Miami. Shahbaz, meanwhile, led Riviera Prep to its third consecutive state title. Months earlier, though, Shahbaz was faced with the challenge of adjusting without his top player, Dante Allen, a four-star prospect who transferred to Montverde Academy. Then the Bulldogs had to overcome multiple injuries including the loss of 7-foot center Gus Guimaraes. Led by sibling guards Myles and Mason Fuentes and sophomore prospect Jeremy Jenkins, Riviera Prep navigated through its tough region and back to Lakeland to keep its title streak alive. With the aforementioned trio returning next season, the Bulldogs have a great chance to extend their streak to four.
Miami Herald
11-04-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Columbus boys' basketball coach officially hired to join Miami Hurricanes coaching staff
As the Columbus boys' basketball coach Andrew Moran spent the past four seasons winning state championships and eventually a national champion. At his new post, Moran will try to help revive the University of Miami program and perhaps help them one day compete for a national title again. On Friday morning, over a month after it was reported that Moran would be joining new Hurricanes coach Jai Lucas' staff, UM made the official announcement that the four-time state championship coach is heading to Coral Gables. Moran will join UM not only as an assistant coach but as director of player development. 'When building my staff, I wanted to prioritize hiring coaches with a proven track record of success,' Lucas said in a statement released Friday by UM. 'Andrew has consistently achieved winning at every level of his coaching career, spanning from high school to grassroots. His exceptional ability to teach the game and background in skill development make him a valuable asset to our program.' Moran led the Explorers to a 145-34 record during his six seasons at Columbus and 112-13 over the past four seasons since seniors and Duke-bound stars Cameron and Cayden Boozer started playing for Columbus. Moran was named the Naismith National Coach of the Year recently after guiding Columbus to its fourth consecutive state championship and a No. 1 national ranking. Moran has won five state titles in his career, having also won a championship as the coach at Miami Christian prior to his stint at Columbus. Last week, the Explorers cemented that ranking by becoming the first South Florida boys' basketball team to win the prestigious Chipotle Nationals tournament. Columbus stands to remain No. 1 nationally by both ESPN and MaxPreps, and claim the first national title ever for a South Florida team. It was the second national tournament title for Columbus during Moran's tenure as the Explorers also won The Throne tournament two years ago during the Boozers' sophomore season. 'It's obviously amazing and an incredible feeling,' Moran told the Miami Herald after Columbus' win over Dynamic Prep on April 5 in the Chipotle Nationals final. 'It's the cherry on top. These kids won everything they set their minds to win.' Moran joins the Hurricanes at a time where he will attempt to help Lucas rebuild a program that reached the Final Four two seasons ago, but this past season finished with a dismal 7-24 record and went 3-17 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Lucas has already begun to rebuild Miami's roster with recent transfer portal acquisitions such as Miami native and former Indiana power forward Malik Reneau, point guard Tre Donaldson (Michigan), center Ernest Udeh (TCU) and shooting guard Tru Washington (New Mexico).
