Even during his playing days in the NBA, Carlos Boozer’s three sons (Carmani, Cameron and Cayden) were never far away.
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Cameron Boozer first picked up a basketball at age four, but he was around the game of basketball at the highest level his entire childhood. His father, Carlos, was the 35th pick in the 2002 NBA Draft and went on to play 13 years in the NBA. Cameron watched his father play for the Utah Jazz, Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers before falling in love with the game of basketball himself.
Growing up with his older brother Carmani and twin brother Cayden, when one of them played a sport, all three had to play. The boys grew up playing basketball, baseball, football, soccer and even hockey together. It didn’t take long for Carmani to gravitate to baseball and the twins found their love for basketball.
“I probably had a basketball in their crib, all three of my sons,” Carlos said laughing. “They got serious about basketball around four or five years old. Then they got good, like really good where I knew they had something, around middle school. I think Cam was No. 1 in the country in seventh grade. The lightbulb started going off for them in middle school and then obviously once they hit high school, they were beating everyone and winning at the highest level.”
No duo has had a more successful high school career than the Boozer twins. They won four straight Florida state championships, three straight Nike Peach Jam titles (which has never been done before), two gold medals with Team USA and a Chipotle National Championship. Cameron was named Gatorade National Player of the Year twice, once as a sophomore and then again as a senior in high school. NBA scouts knew the Boozer name but the boys exceeded expectations and paved their own path.
“They represent the Boozer name so proudly and so boldly and were unafraid of all the smoke that came with it,” Carlos said. “There were kids that couldn’t wait to play them because they were highly ranked and had so much success in high school. They’ve taken on every single challenge and they’ve never run from anything and I’m super proud of where they are.”
Cameron averaged 21.2 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game his senior year and recorded 100 double-doubles in high school. He was the MVP of the 2024 U17 FIBA World Cup and was consistently a top player in his class since the time he was in 7th grade.
Cam Boozer sits down with Lauren Green from NBA TV to discuss the NBA Draft.
Andrew Moran had a front row seat to Boozer’s development. He started coaching the twins between their seventh and eighth grade year and coached them in high school and AAU basketball all the way up to their senior season. He’s now an assistant coach at Miami and will never forget his time coaching the twins and what Cameron brought to his team year after year.
“He’s a pretty incredible person outside of being an incredible basketball player,” Moran said. “He’s always cared about his teammates and coaches at every level. Obviously he’s a great player and had a storied high school career but the growth of him as a person and as a leader is what sticks out the most.”
Cameron and Cayden were highly recruited and never publicized being a package deal. They both had a handful of similar offers but also had different schools recruiting them as well. In October of their senior season, the twins committed to their father’s alma mater Duke and chose the Blue Devils over Miami, Kentucky and Florida. Carlos won a national championship at Duke in 2001 and was the ACC Tournament MVP in 2002. He never pressured the boys to go to Duke and let them go through the recruiting process.
“I wanted them to choose their own path and pave their own way,” Carlos said. “When they chose Duke, of course I was happy, but I was more so happy that it was their decision and I knew they 100 percent were committed to play there because of their relationships they built with the coaching staff and how they would fit into the system.”
Prior to the season starting, NBA scouts and executives traveled to different practices around the country to get a benchmark on the projected top prospects in the upcoming draft. It was clear early on that Cameron had the potential to be the most impactful player in college basketball. Once the season started, he was a walking double-double and didn’t play like a typical freshman. When his shot wasn’t falling, Cameron was a beast on the boards. He was one of the best passing forwards in the country and led Duke in points (22.5), rebounds (10.2) and assists (4.1) over the course of the season.
“I got the chills so many times watching my kids wear the same jersey I wore 25 years ago and they were excelling and playing outstandingly,” Carlos said. “Cameron was the best player in the country all year long and showed up huge every single night and Cayden had spectacular moments when we needed him the most. Caleb Foster goes down, and Cayden steps in right away and played great and proved he’s a starting point guard in college and he’s ready to have a breakout sophomore season.”
Duke finished first in the Atlantic Coast Conference and won the conference tournament. Carlos had a déjà vu moment watching Cameron win the ACC Tournament MVP after Duke won the entire tournament.
“I’m so proud of him,” Carlos said. “It’s hard to put it into words. I can’t believe what they’ve accomplished. I’m blown away and since I went through it and I walked their path, I know the sacrifices they have to make, I know the things they have to give up. It was just fun to watch them do it together, do it their way and put their fingerprints on their own legacy and I’m just super super proud of both of them.”
Cameron led the Blue Devils to the Elite Eight and finished his incredible season with one of the highest individual honors in college basketball. For the second year in a row, a Duke freshman was named the Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year (Cooper Flagg won the award the year prior). Cameron also was named the ACC Player of the Year and ACC Rookie of the Year.
“Nothing he did this year surprised me,” Moran said. “I know his preparation, his work, his will to win and at the end of the day, he’s going to do whatever it takes to win. Any team that gets him at the next level is getting an immediate impact player. I can’t tell you what his averages are going to be, that’s not the impact I’m talking about but he’s always been a winner, and he will make a difference in some way during his first season.”
Two-time NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer and his son, draft prospect Cameron Boozer share memories and thoughts on the future in anticipation of the NBA Draft.
Cameron is projected at the top of the draft with AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Caleb Wilson. The stress and unknown of the pre-draft process can be a lot for a player but he’s been calm and has leaned on his dad and brother throughout the process.
“I think the biggest thing is just having him around me,” Cameron said at the NBA Draft combine. “When you have someone like my dad that’s been through it and been through the ups and downs and had success at the highest level, it’s nice to have someone like that in my corner. And with Cayden, it’s great sharing the court with someone who loves the game as much as I do. Someone who pushes me every day to be better and knows the way I play the game. There’s always someone to compete with and, especially because we’re family, there’s that tough love that pushes me to get better.”
Cameron has met with all four teams picking at the top: Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls. Wherever he lands, that organization is getting a player who has won at every single level of basketball up to this point and will impact the team immediately.
“Cam is so excited,” Carlos said. “He’s not nervous at all. He’s worked his butt off for this moment and this is a dream he’s had since he was four years old and it will be realized on Tuesday as he starts his NBA journey. Obviously the work never stops and he’s a guy that loved the work, loved the process and loved being in the lab and getting ready for the challenges that lie ahead.
The whole family will be in the green room and the emotions will be high as Carlos, his mom CeeCee, Carmani and Cayden will all be there supporting Cameron as he starts his NBA career. As kids, they played every sport together and went through every milestone as a unit and Tuesday night will be no different.
“Man, my emotions are going to be all over the place,” Carlos said. “Most of it will be pure joy and excitement. It’s a special moment when you see your kid realize a dream he’s had and goals he’s set out for. I’m very very excited for Cam and whatever happens Tuesday night, we’ll be jumping for joy. There’s no question about that.”
