Cameron Boozer, Duke
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Cameron Boozer of the Duke Blue Devils reacts after making a basket.
The NBA draft conversation is already heating up around Cameron Boozer, and the Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball star finds himself squarely in the middle of a tightly contested race for the projected No. 1 overall pick.
Boozer spoke with Heavy Sports in an exclusive interview while promoting State Farm’s “Will You Be There?” campaign alongside his twin brother, Cayden Boozer.
NBA scouts have largely centered the early debate on three prospects: Boozer, Kansas‘ Darryn Peterson and BYU’s AJ Dybantsa. Each brings a different skill set to the discussion as evaluators begin projecting the next wave of franchise players.
Boozer, however, says draft projections remain far from his mind as Duke enters the most important stretch of the season.
“I’m not really focusing on that,” Boozer told Heavy Sports. “I’m just focusing on what I got to do to help my team win right now.”
“Obviously, we have some big games coming up, so I’ll just kind of do whatever I can to help my team win.”
Boozer Making His Case for No. 1 Pick
Cameron Boozer, Duke
GettyCameron Boozer of the Duke Blue Devils interacts with the fans following their 76-61 victory over the North Carolina Tar Heels at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 07, 2026, in Durham, North Carolina.
The 6-foot-9 forward — and son of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer — entered college with enormous expectations after a decorated amateur career that included multiple FIBA gold medals and youth MVP honors.
At Duke, Boozer has backed up that reputation with one of the most productive seasons in college basketball while serving as the offensive centerpiece of a team with national championship aspirations.
When asked what separates him from Peterson and Dybantsa in the debate for the No. 1 pick, Boozer offered a straightforward answer.
“I’ll just say that I’m a winner,” Boozer told Heavy Sports. “At every level I’ve played at, and I’ll continue at the next level.”
Mock Drafts Split on Boozer’s Projection
Despite Boozer’s dominant production, mock drafts remain divided on where he could ultimately land.
In his March 10 mock draft for Bleacher Report, NBA draft analyst Jonathan Wasserman projected Boozer as the No. 2 overall prospect, ranking him behind Dybantsa.
Wasserman highlighted Boozer’s versatility, noting he is shooting 40.4 percent from three-point range on similar volume as Dybantsa, while his assist percentage is more than double Peterson’s. Synergy Sports data also places Boozer in the 90th percentile or better in both ball-screen and isolation possessions, underscoring his ability to attack defenses both inside and on the perimeter.
“He’s been the ultimate mismatch—overpowering inside, skilled around the perimeter and smart inside the defense making passing reads,” Wasserman wrote.
Still, some scouts question whether Boozer’s physical tools — particularly his explosiveness and defensive range — will limit his ceiling at the next level.
ESPN Mock Draft Lists Boozer at No. 3
In his March 10 mock draft for ESPN, NBA draft analyst Jeremy Woo ranked Boozer No. 3 overall, behind Peterson and Dybantsa.
“Boozer, the ACC Player and Rookie of the Year, has made a loud argument for himself as the best player in college basketball and would provide excellent value if he falls to No. 3,” Woo wrote.
Woo noted that Boozer is having a historically productive season as the offensive centerpiece of a Duke team with national title aspirations, excelling across nearly every offensive category.
At the same time, Woo reported that some evaluators continue to debate Boozer’s ultimate NBA ceiling due to his average explosiveness and slower defensive ground coverage, leading some scouts to view him either as a potential franchise cornerstone or a high-level secondary star.
Pacers Could Be Possible Landing Spot
Both Wasserman and Woo identified the Indiana Pacers as a potential landing spot if Boozer were selected No. 2 or No. 3.
Indiana’s recent trade for center Ivica Zubac raised the stakes surrounding the team’s upcoming pick, which must be conveyed to the Los Angeles Clippers if it falls between Nos. 5 and 9.
If the Pacers keep the selection, Woo suggested pairing Boozer with All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton could help push Indiana back into playoff contention.
Cayden Boozer Could Return to Duke
While Cameron continues to appear prominently in early mock drafts, Cayden Boozer has not yet been widely projected as a lottery selection.
That leaves open the possibility that Cayden could return to Duke for another season before entering the NBA draft.
“There’s a lot of season left, so we’ll see what happens at the end of the season,” Cayden told Heavy Sports. “But right now, just focusing on what I can do each and every day to get better.”
For Cameron, however, the focus remains unchanged — winning now and letting the draft conversation take care of itself.