Cameron Boozer is heading for the pros. The Duke freshman announced Friday that he will enter the 2026 NBA Draft, dropping a short video on his social channels after a debut college season that put him in rare company among first-year players.
The decision came in an Instagram reel captioned, “Thank you for everything @dukeuniversity. Duke Blue forever,” a farewell that quickly ricocheted around Durham and the college hoops world. As noted by The News & Observer, twin brother Cayden chimed in underneath with, “I guess we got a lot to talk about tonight.”
Season, awards and stats
Boozer averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game while shooting better than 55 percent from the field, production that put him among the most efficient bigs in the country this season, according to ESPN.
He turned those numbers into a clean sweep of the major national player of the year awards, including the Naismith and Wooden trophies, and he was also named the AP men's college player of the year, per Duke Athletics.
Draft outlook
Scouts and mock drafts have Boozer penciled in as a likely top-three pick in June's draft, with evaluators praising his blend of power, perimeter touch and playmaking feel for a forward, according to Bleacher Report. That skill set has him slotted among the headliners in a class that already includes AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson.
What this means for Duke
Boozer closed his college career with 27 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks in Duke's East regional final loss to UConn, capping a 35-3 season in Durham, according to The Associated Press.
Even as Boozer shifts into draft mode, Duke is not starting from scratch. Twin brother Cayden has already announced that he will return for his sophomore season, while sophomore Isaiah Evans has declared for the draft, per Sports Illustrated and HoopsRumors. The Blue Devils now head into the offseason knowing one twin is off to the NBA while the other will help anchor next year's roster.
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