Boozer twins recruiting prediction for Duke vs. Miami over college basketball’s next stars

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Should Cameron and Cayden Boozer pick Duke or Miami in recruiting? Let’s break it down.

The next set of elite basketball twins are about announce their college decision. Cameron and Cayden Boozer are five-star prospects out of Columbus High School in Miami who have won at the highest level everywhere they’ve played. Now they’re choosing between the Duke Blue Devils and the Miami Hurricanes for where they will continue their careers.

Cameron and Cayden are the sons of long-time NBA forward Carlos Boozer. The twins won three straight Florida state championships at Columbus during their first three years in school, and matched it with three straight EYBL championships in U15, U16, and U17 divisions during grassroots season. Add in a pair of gold medals with USA Basketball — where Cameron was named MVP in both tournaments — and the Boozer twins have an undeniable case as the greatest winners of their generation at the high school level.

Cameron Boozer will be contention to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft alongside elite wing A.J. Dybansta. The 6’9 big man’s signature skill is his ultra high feel for the game. He’s been a historically efficient scorer throughout his prep career, showing the ability to punish opponents on the glass and in the post, while also being able to step out for three-pointers and create for himself off the dribble. The bigger Boozer isn’t exactly an above-the-rim athlete, but his combination of IQ, touch, size, strength, passing, and motor is impossible to deny.

Cayden Boozer didn’t get his brother’s luck in the genetic lottery, but he still has legitimate size for a point guard at about 6’3. Cayden looks destined to be a tremendous college floor general at the very least. He has a big, strong frame that helps him hound opposing guards at the point of attack. He’s a heady passer who thrives pushing his team in transition. He’s getting better as a shooter, and could be an NBA prospect in his own right whether it’s as a one-and-one or someone who needs multiple years in school.

It’s rare you see a high-profile recruiting battle between ACC foes Duke and Miami, but either school would be a great choice for the Boozer twins. Let’s break it down.

The case for Duke

Duke does not have any commitments for the class of 2025 yet. They would love for Cameron and Cayden Boozer to be the first.

Cameron Boozer would immediately take over for Cooper Flagg, the very likely No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, as Duke’s starting power forward and primary offensive option. Boozer and Flagg have had some amazing battles throughout their high school careers, and each seem destined to be big NBA stars. While Flagg is more athletic and the better defender, Boozer is a more polished scorer. Duke head coach Jon Scheyer would have no problem fine-tuning his schemes to fit Boozer’s unique talents.

Cameron Boozer would fit right in to Duke’s lineage of scoring forwards with elite NBA pedigrees. From Jabari Parker to Brandon Ingram to Jayson Tatum to Zion Williamson to Jalen Johnson to Paolo Banchero to Flagg, Duke always seems to have a stud freshman wing/forward destined to be picked high in the draft. It just makes too much sense for Boozer to be next.

It’s hard to say how Duke’s guard situation will shake out next year in regards to Cayden’s fit in the backcourt. Duke has Tyrese Proctor, Caleb Foster, Isaiah Evans, and Darren Harris at backcourt spots this year. Proctor is currently a junior and Foster is a sophomore, so both could theoretically return next year. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see one of those players turn pro, opening up a potential starting spot for Cayden. Player movement in college basketball is so fluid these days that it feels pointless to project the roster this far out.

Did we mention that the twins’ father, Carlos Boozer, was a big-time star at Duke back in the day? From a legacy perspective, Duke checks so many boxes.

The case for Miami

Miami has a few things going for it in this decision against Duke. Picking the Hurricanes would allow the Boozer twins to carve out their own legacy. It would allow them to stay at home in Florida. It would also likely guarantee a starting job for Cayden that he may or may not have at Duke.

Miami has been one of the schools at the forefront of throwing out big deals in the NIL era. Remember when Nijel Pack getting $800K in NIL to transfer to Miami was a big deal? These days, top transfers are getting $2 million per year while Pack is still on the roster for the Hurricanes. Duke is obviously an NIL monster in its own right, but it does feel like Miami can be competitive in the marketplace if it means landing day one superstars like the Boozer twins.

At Duke, the Boozers would be continuing a lineage that includes their father and so many other star players. At Miami, they could legitimately be the biggest basketball stars in program history. The Hurricanes have never won the national championship, but they did make the Final Four two years ago as a No. 5 seed. This program can win even in the twilight of head coach Jim Larrañaga’s career.

The city of Miami seems to mean a lot to the Boozers. As a Chicago Bulls fan, I remember seeing them on TV for the first time cheering for the Heat despite their father playing for Chicago. They stuck at a private high school in the city instead of transferring to a prep program elsewhere. There’s nothing better than doing it for your hometown, and committing to the Hurricanes gives the Boozers the chance to do just that.

Miami already lost most of its team over this past offseason. They are more or less building from scratch, with five-star guard Jalil Bethea leading a strong recruiting class. The guess here is that Bethea goes to the NBA after this season. With Pack and star wing Matthew Cleveland both out of eligibility after this season, it feels like the Hurricanes will have mostly a blank slate roster to be filled in recruiting and with the transfer portal. Scoring guard Jalen Blackmon (a Stetson transfer) should be back, and incoming freshman shooting guard Austin Swartz (No. 65 ranked in his class) and wing Isaiah Johnson-Arigu (No. 145 in his class) should be contributors, but both Boozers would obviously have huge roles and would be the leaders of the team immediately if they go to Miami.