Duke basketball is their birthright, but rival UNC is pushing to land Boozer twins, too

Born to be Duke Blue Devils, twin brothers Cameron and Cayden Boozer fit the mold 16 years later: Both are rated as five-star recruits in the 2025 graduating class, and both are being heavily recruited by several top programs

At 6-foot-9, Cameron Boozer is considered one of the top recruits in high school basketball regardless of his age. A 6-4 point guard, Cayden Boozer holds a rating in the mid-20s nationally in his class.

Their father, former Duke player and NBA All-Star forward Carlos Boozer, sits conspicuously behind the bench at their summer-league games — like at the Nike Peach Jam in North Augusta, S.C., this week.

Duke coach Jon Scheyer and his assistants watch their games, too, and are in a strong position to land the brothers.

But as their recruiting process unfolds, other schools — Miami, Kentucky, Florida State, Arkansas — are in the running, too. One other school, in particular, continues to stay involved.

Yep, it’s the other shade of blue, the rival down the road, North Carolina.

UNC coach Hubert Davis and his assistants were also regularly watching the Boozers play for the Florida-based Nightrydas squad at Peach Jam. The Tar Heels have offered them scholarships, and the Boozers are thrilled.

“It was a blessing to get that offer,” Cayden Boozer said. “You know, just talking to Coach Davis and the new staff was a great experience for me.”

The possibility has to be as sickening to Duke fans as it is thrilling to UNC fans. After Davis led UNC to wins over Duke both in Mike Krzyzewski’s final home game as Blue Devils coach, and a month later in an historic Final Four matchup in 2022, this move would be on par with those accomplishments, if Davis can pull it off.

The Tar Heels appear to be doing more than just going through the motions as they chase the Boozers. No one from the family’s side is throwing any cold water on the possible move.

“It’s a great school,” Cameron Boozer said. “There’s no reason not to (consider it).”

Carlos Boozer is advising his sons, but also giving them room to make their own decisions between schools competing at college basketball’s highest levels.

“Just enjoy it,” Carlos Boozer said. “You know, it’s tough because everybody is offering the same stuff. For them, find what’s best for you. Find a school that you fall in love with and that falls in love with you. They’re going through that process.”

Carlos Boozer played for Duke’s 2001 NCAA championship team under Krzyzewski and was also on the 2008 Olympic gold medal-winning U.S. team with Krzyzewski as coach at the Beijing Olympics.

Krzyzewski is no longer coaching Duke, of course. Scheyer took over last year and, though suffering some lopsided losses during a 27-9 season, led the Blue Devils to an ACC championship in his first season. With four starters returning from that team, Scheyer certainly has the Duke program in line to continue the success Carlos Boozer helped establish under Krzyzewski.

“He’s a good coach,” Cameron Boozer said of Scheyer. “He’s following up an all-time great so it’s tough, but I feel like he’s going to do a good job.”

Said Cayden, “They did a good job last year. I’m looking forward to seeing what they do this year and in the years after that.”

Both Cameron and Cayden Boozer said Duke’s recruitment of them is heavy. The coaches are in contact as much as they are allowed to under NCAA rules.

One wrinkle in their decision-making could involve another top 2025 recruit, 6-8 forward Cooper Flagg from Maine. Flagg and Cameron Boozer are considered the top two players in the 2025 class and the same schools — Duke, UNC, Kentucky and others — are recruiting them both.

On Thursday, Flagg produced a monster performance in front of Scheyer, Davis, Kentucky coach John Calipari and a host of other coaches with 38 points, 16 rebounds, 12 blocked shots and six assists when his Maine United team beat Proskills, 71-68, at Peach Jam.

In the next game played on that same court, Cameron Boozer had 19 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and two blocked shots as Nightrydas pounded the PSA Cardinals, 82-55. Cayden Boozer scored 10 points with 10 assists.

Unless one of them reclassifies to enter college a year early in 2024, is there a chance the Boozers and Flagg could join up at the same school or will they definitely go different places?

Cayden Boozer said he and his brother aren’t thinking about that yet.

“I haven’t really thought about making a decision yet so I’m not really sure,” Cayden Boozer said.

Flagg will once again attend Montverde Academy in Florida this school year, his second after transferring from his high school in Maine. The Boozers are in Miami, at Christopher Columbus High School.

None of them have indicated a reclassification is in the plans, so that would mean they all have two years of high school basketball remaining.

The chase is on, and while the destination, for the Boozers at least, appears set due to their birthright, no one really knows how it will all play out.