Every preseason practice has its highlights — but what happened inside Duke’s gym this week wasn’t just a highlight. It was a statement. One play, one moment, and suddenly, everyone inside Cameron Indoor knew it: Cameron Boozer had officially arrived.
The Blue Devils were deep into a full-speed scrimmage when Boozer made the kind of sequence that separates stars from prospects. After ripping down a rebound over Patrick Ngongba II, he pushed the ball coast to coast, froze a defender with a hesitation, and finished through contact — all in one motion. The gym erupted. Even Jon Scheyer cracked a grin, the kind of “we knew he had it, but not like that” expression that says everything.
What made it special wasn’t just the power or poise — it was the confidence. Boozer looked like he belonged in every sense of the word. His presence forced veterans to raise their level. Isaiah Evans responded by drilling a contested jumper the very next possession, and Bryson Howard followed up with a strong drive that drew praise from the coaching staff. The energy skyrocketed. But make no mistake — Boozer was the spark that lit it.
Khaman Maluach, who’s quickly becoming Duke’s defensive anchor, later said the moment “shifted the tone of practice completely.” Insiders echoed the same thing — that it felt like Boozer’s breakout was no longer a matter of if, but when. Coaches reportedly replayed the clip multiple times in film study, pointing out Boozer’s decision-making and balance as proof of how much he’s already grown in just a few weeks on campus.
By the end of practice, whispers had turned into belief. Boozer wasn’t just fitting in — he was setting the standard. With a roster full of high-ceiling talent, from Howard’s playmaking to Ngongba’s interior dominance, one play proved what Duke fans have been hoping for all along: their next superstar might already be here, and his name is Cameron Boozer.
