The current No. 1 team in college basketball, the Duke Blue Devils, underwent significant roster turnover from last year’s squad that featured Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel. Head coach Jon Scheyer retooled the team while bringing back some crucial pieces.
Duke is getting production from a variety of players, but the most consistent standout has been true freshman Cameron Boozer. He’s been one of the best players in the country this season, and according to legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, the best freshman in the sport — “it’s not close.”
“He’s the best one, I think. If you want to pick two, okay, but to me, it’s not close,” Krzyzewski said during an interview with The Field of 68. “This kid is so dependable, so poised, and he puts up amazing numbers in scoring, passing, and rebounding. He sets a physical tone for a team that opponents have to match… and he can really shoot.
“He’s almost automatic. I’ve gone to a number of games, and he has great feet and balance. His rebounding is incredible, he’s strong, he has great hands… he’s had as good a year as any freshman that has ever played here.”
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Boozer is well within contention for National Player of the Year, which would make him the second consecutive Duke freshman to achieve that honor, following Flagg’s remarkable campaign last year — widely regarded as one of the greatest freshman seasons in Blue Devils history.
Yet Boozer has carved out his own place in that conversation. How he performs over the coming weeks — during the ACC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament, where Duke is projected as a No. 1 seed — will help determine where his likely lone season in Durham ranks all-time, especially after last year’s team fell short in the Final Four.
Through 29 games entering Tuesday night’s matchup against NC State, Boozer is averaging 22.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game, while shooting 57.7% from the field and 40.2% from three-point range.
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