Heading into the season, I agreed with the general consensus that the clear top three in the 2026 NBA Draft would be Kansas freshman guard Darryn Peterson, BYU freshman wing AJ Dybantsa and Duke freshman forward Cameron Boozer. However, in that top three, I felt comfortable putting Boozer as the clear third option behind Peterson and Dybantsa. If there was a team that had a specific need for a big man like Boozer picking one or two, it would not have shocked me if they took him, but I felt like talent-wise, Peterson and Dybantsa both had much higher ceilings. Now, after Boozer’s incredible start to the season with Duke, I am not so sure.
The Washington Wizards currently have the worst record in the NBA at 2-16 and are on track to have the best odds to earn the No. 1 pick in the lottery. If these results hold, then they will have a 40.1% chance of earning a top-three pick.
Here is everything you need to know about Boozer before the draft, including his red-hot start with Duke and why he could be the perfect player for the Wizards.
Cameron Boozer, 6’9” freshman forward from Duke
Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer drives against the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer drives against the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Getty Images
Basketball fans have been aware of Cameron Boozer for years. The son of former two-time All-Star and 13-year NBA veteran Carlos Boozer, he dominated in high school, EYBL, AAU and with Team USA. For years, people were anticipating Boozer’s college, and eventual NBA career.
At 6’9” and 250 pounds, Boozer has an NBA-ready body, can score at all three levels and has an unteachable level of touch around the rim that has allowed him to put the ball in the basket at will to begin his collegiate career at Duke. In eight games, Boozer is averaging 22.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 38.7% from three and 57.8% from the field. His most impressive game came against Arkansas on Thanksgiving when he had 35 points and nine rebounds in an 80-71 victory.
Boozer leads Duke in every major statistical category, is sixth in the country in scoring, second in box plus-minus with 21.7, first in win shares with 2.7 and first in defensive rating with 76.1. Boozer came into the season with high expectations and has blown them all out of the water with his stat sheet-stuffing production.
Some of my initial worries regarding Boozer were about his lack of versatility and having his ceiling capped as a post player compared to what Peterson or Dybantsa could become. His ability to score at will against elite competition, dominate on both ends of the floor and contribute to winning basketball through his first eight games have helped alleviate some of those concerns.
Boozer is not necessarily the most versatile on the defensive end, but he has enough mobility and athleticism where he should be able to hold his own against smaller and quicker NBA opponents hunting for switches. At 6’9” without being an explosive leaper, I would not expect Boozer to be a prolific shot blocker at the NBA level, but his quick hands and his ability to bother entry passes down low should allow him to continue to collect steals at a high rate. He definitely is known as an offensive-first player, but his defense will not hold him back the 18-year-old Boozer.
Especially when looking at his fit on the Wizards, Boozer would be a near-perfect frontcourt complement to Alex Sarr on both ends of the floor. On the offensive side, Boozer could hold the more prototypical big man role in the post while Sarr could operate on the perimeter. If the Wizards decide to play through Boozer, who has shown that he is an improved and willing passer so far at Duke, and use him as a sort of point forward, that would make him even more of an asset to the rest of the young Wizards roster. The amount of attention his combination of scoring and playmaking draws would open up so much space for guys like Tre Johnson and Kyshawn George to score.
The only downside is that there is a world in which Boozer is not able to be much more than just a post scorer and catch-and-shooter in the NBA. His game could take a significant step back if he is not able to be as physically dominant as he has been early on in his college career and in high school. But, he has made a seamless transition to college, and has done nothing to suggest that he can not keep up with NBA athletes and continue to improve his game.
Looking for potential comparisons for Boozer is difficult. His combination of physical strength, rebounding and three-level scoring evoke memories of early-career Kevin Love on the Minnesota Timberwolves. But looking at the way Boozer operates on the offensive end, he has a much more advanced and skilled game and has more playmaking ability. A more accurate comparison could be Michael Beasley at Kansas State. While Beasley never really put it all together at the NBA level, he had one of the most dominant and exciting college seasons of all time, averaging 26.2 points and 12.4 rebounds per game.
Boozer is a consensus top-three pick. Where Boozer, Peterson and Dybantsa end up being picked will be one of the most compelling storylines leading up to the draft. If the Wizards zero in on Boozer as their ideal draft pick this year, the only way to guarantee they get him will be if they have the No. 1 pick.
Drafting a player like Boozer would be incredible for the Wizards. He would instantly become the go-to scorer and face of the franchise that the team has been searching for since the departures of John Wall and Bradley Beal. If this season results in a draft pick that allows the Wizards to draft Boozer, their tank should be considered an absolute success.