Cameron Boozer Already Surpassing the Hype? Duke Freshman Drawing Rave Reviews Behind the Scenes
When a freshman arrives on campus as the son of an NBA All-Star and the No. 1 recruit in the nation, expectations are already sky-high. But in the case of Duke’s Cameron Boozer, those expectations might not just be met they might be shattered.
On CBS’s Eye On College Basketball Podcast, Triangle-based reporter Brendan Marks joined Matt Norlander to preview the Blue Devils’ season. While there was plenty of optimism about Duke’s depth and balance, one comment about Boozer stood out above all the rest:
“If you ask the staff, you ask people in the building, he’s been even better than they thought he would be, which is saying something.”
That’s right — even inside Cameron Indoor Stadium, where hype is standard operating procedure, Boozer has managed to surprise people.
A Winner by Nature
Marks was quick to note that Boozer’s style won’t be an exact mirror of former Duke phenom Cooper Flagg, but one thing is consistent: Boozer’s teams win. Whether at the high school level, in AAU play, or now in Durham, the forward’s combination of skill, IQ, and unselfishness translates to victories.
Marks projected Boozer to average 17–18 points per game as a freshman and flirt with double-digit rebounds numbers that would instantly place him among the most productive first-year players in college basketball.
Freedom to Flourish
Perhaps the most intriguing note from the discussion was how head coach Jon Scheyer plans to use him. Instead of easing the freshman into a defined role, Scheyer reportedly intends to give Boozer plenty of freedom to explore his game, make plays, and dictate the tempo.
That’s a level of trust most coaches don’t grant a freshman but Boozer isn’t a typical freshman. At 6’9” with a versatile scoring package, an advanced understanding of the game, and a willingness to battle on the glass, he’s built to carry a heavy workload from day one.
More Than Just Boozer
The podcast wasn’t all about the freshman star. Marks also praised sophomore guard Caleb Foster, noting his surge in confidence and newfound aggressiveness in attacking the rim. For a Duke team looking to rebound from stretches of inconsistency last season, Foster’s leap could be a critical factor.
Still, it’s Boozer’s rapid adaptation to the college game that has tongues wagging in Durham. The blend of poise, production, and maturity is already rare and the fact that he’s exceeding the expectations of a coaching staff that already knew how good he was supposed to be speaks volumes.
A Season of Possibility
If Marks’ projections are anywhere close to reality, Boozer could be on the fast track to ACC Player of the Year consideration before he’s even unpacked all his dorm boxes. Duke has the depth, talent, and experience to make a deep run in March, but Boozer’s emergence as an immediate star could be the catalyst that turns them from contenders into favorites.
The season hasn’t tipped off yet, but inside Duke’s walls, there’s a growing belief that the Cameron Boozer era might be even more dominant than anyone dared to predict.
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