Why Cameron Boozer Will Ease The Sting Of Losing Cooper Flagg

And it’s not just Cameron either.

Although Cooper Flagg only played for Duke for one season, he left an indelible impression and is going to be very difficult to replace, but CBS’s Matt Norlander says it may not be as impossible as it looks. Why?

Two words: Cameron Boozer.

They’re clearly not the same player; Flagg is a purist’s delight. However, Boozer is no slouch.

Norlander says this about the rising star in Durham:

“There’s not been a player that has been affected and literally won more than Cameron Boozer. He brings a high degree of winning. Obviously, there’s a pedigree with his father having played at Duke...He’s more powerful than Flagg, he’s a better rebounder than Flagg. I could argue he’s a better rim protector than Flagg. But Flagg is more agile (has the) instincts when it comes to defending the rim, a good weak-side help defender.”

Boozer is going to be just fine and if you’re like us, you’ve learned to trust Scheyer’s judgement about players. He has a keen eye not just for talent, but for talent that will work in his system.

That said, since taking over, Scheyer has not recruited a first-rate point guard. That’s not to knock Jeremy Roach, Tyrese Proctor, Caleb Foster or Sion James, but none of those guys are on the level of Tommy Amaker, Bobby Hurley, Quinn Cook, the Jones brothers or Scheyer himself.

It’s possible Scheyer has one of those now.

Cameron’s brother, Cayden, appears to have excellent point guard instincts and could emerge as a starter. If he does, it’ll mean two things: first, that Scheyer got a good talent. And second, that would give his brother the one thing that Flagg never had: a great presence at point, and that would give Scheyer a weapon he has not yet had at Duke. And something tells us he’ll know what to do with it if he does.