The top three in the 2026 NBA Draft seem to be a lock, and that's where Cameron Boozer of Duke is right now.
Boozer has been the best freshman in the country by a wide margin this season due to Darryn Peterson being injured, but some don't expect him to go first overall, and it's not tough to see why. Peterson is that good.
Jeremy Woo of ESPN recently mocked Boozer to go No. 3 overall to the Atlanta Hawks after moving on from Trae Young.
“Boozer continues to do what he does best, driving Duke's wins while leading a team largely composed of underclassmen. His all-around production, unflappable competitive nature and feel for team basketball make him a malleable offensive player who will immediately boost whatever team he joins. While there is some negative aesthetic bias among evaluators regarding his lack of vertical explosiveness, those concerns appear more pertinent on the defensive end: he's made 66% of two-point attempts, but has recorded just 11 blocks in 16 games. Boozer is a strong team defender, but limited as a rim protector, which his next team will have to account for.
“Where Boozer ultimately falls among the top three picks will likely depend on fit -- a team with established perimeter talent could certainly justify him ahead of the other two. But at this point, it's difficult to see another player making a strong enough case to crack this tier, considering how historically prolific the trio has been,” he wrote.
For Duke, this is always a good thing. It shows the program’s identity as a place where elite prospects don’t just pass through, but they become legit NBA players.
When recruits come to North Carolina and take a visit to Duke, it's easy to see why many of them would want to play for the program. All Duke has done is win and produce high-level NBA players.
For now, Boozer has to be focused on helping his team win and staying healthy. As long as he's able to stay on the court and continues to play the way he has, both sides should be in a very good position.