When a freshman steps onto Coach K Court at Cameron Indoor for the first time, the moment usually brings nerves, noise, and pressure. But for Cameron Boozer, it brought something else entirely — dominance.
In his first regular-season home game, Boozer didn’t just look comfortable — he looked ready. The 6-foot-9, 250-pound freshman poured in 25 points, grabbed eight rebounds, dished out five assists, and even added a block in just 23 minutes as No. 6 Duke blew past Western Carolina, 95–54.
But the numbers only tell part of the story. What really caught the attention of Duke’s coaches was how Boozer played — poised, unselfish, and efficient. He didn’t force shots or try to make it “his night.” Instead, he let the game come to him, making the right reads, finishing through contact, and setting the tone on both ends of the floor.
“He just plays the right way,” one Duke staffer said after the game. “Every time he’s on the court, the energy shifts. He makes everyone better.”
That’s quickly become a theme inside the Duke program. Behind closed doors, the coaching staff has been using Boozer’s film as a teaching example — showing teammates how a freshman with patience, power, and IQ can completely change the team’s flow.
It’s rare for a newcomer to draw this kind of praise so early, but Boozer isn’t your typical freshman. His mix of strength and skill makes him nearly unguardable at times, and his passing touch gives Duke’s offense a level of versatility it hasn’t had in years.
And while his twin brother Cayden Boozer also shined with 14 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, Cameron’s performance felt like a statement — a glimpse of why so many around the program already see him as the foundation of Duke’s future.
Western Carolina didn’t have an answer. The Catamounts missed 18 of their first 20 shots, and by halftime, the Blue Devils were up by 24. Boozer’s presence — rebounding, defending, and orchestrating from the high post — set the tone for a Duke team that looks both deeper and more disciplined than last year’s version.
Jon Scheyer couldn’t stop smiling after the game. “He just knows how to play,” Scheyer said. “He competes, he shares the ball, and he’s got that maturity you can’t really teach.”
For a player who hasn’t even turned 19, that’s high praise. But Boozer’s already proving he deserves it — not with hype, but with consistency.
If Saturday was any indication, Duke’s “quiet game-changer” might not stay quiet for long.
