“It didn’t mean anything at all”: Despite father Carlos’ success under Coach K, Cayden and Cameron Boozer set to walk their own path to Duke

One of the biggest 2025 class commitments in college basketball came on October 11, when Cayden and Cameron Boozer committed to Duke. They chose the Blue Devils over the Miami Hurricanes, Florida, and Kentucky Wildcats. Given their father Carlos Boozer's legacy with the program, many assumed the twins would follow suit.

Nevertheless, none of the 42-year-old Boozer's accolades and history with Duke factored in on their recruitment. Even though Cameron Boozer touched on the gravity of his father's time in Durham, he claimed that it didn't actively help in his and Cayden's commitment journey.

“What [Carlos Boozer] has done at Duke, of course, it means something," Boozer shared with Sports Illustrated's Kevin Sweeney. "But for us, in terms of recruiting and going through everything, it didn’t mean anything at all.”

Carlos Boozer played at Duke from 1999-2002 under legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski and was part of the Blue Devils' 2001 national championship-winning team. He averaged 14.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.0 steals on more than 60% shooting during his Duke career before being picked by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2002 NBA draft.

Boozer picked up several All-ACC recognitions, like the All-Freshman Team and the ACC Tournament MVP. He led the ACC in rebounds, field goal percentage, offensive win shares, and other metrics throughout his tenure at Duke, which had a 95-13 record with him.

As Cayden and Cameron Boozer choose Duke, they not only have pressure to live up to the hype but also to add significantly to their father’s legacy.

What do Cayden and Cameron Boozer bring to Duke?

Cayden Boozer is a top-20 player in the 2025 recruiting class, while Cameron is ranked second. Together, the two bring probably the best backcourt and frontcourt dynamics.

Cayden is one of the best facilitators in his class and has a comp to San Antonio Spurs guard and former Duke star Tre Jones. As a junior last season, he averaged 12 points and 7.6 assists per game for Columbus High School.

On the other hand, Cameron Boozer might have the best fundamentals and IQ in high school. He has a strong frame and is an offensive force that has been compared to Paolo Banchero. Last spring, he led the EYBL 17U level, averaging 24.5 points and 13.4 rebounds per game, but he can also impact the game in multiple other ways.

With that, the Boozer twins bring hope for the Blue Devils to maintain a dominant standard of basketball for the 2025 season.