Cameron Boozer is set to tip off his first-ever NCAA March Madness run on Thursday night, leading the Duke Blue Devils—fresh off an ACC title—as the East Region’s No. 1 seed against the Siena Saints.
A unanimous First-Team AP All-American and a strong contender to be the top overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Boozer’s rise has been filled with praise, though not without a few lingering criticisms.
The freshman standout put together a dominant season, averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds (leading the ACC), and 4.2 assists while posting an elite 66.0% true shooting percentage. Still, some critics have questioned his perimeter shooting—something the 18-year-old quickly shut down in an interview with Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports.
Boozer clearly takes pride in his shooting ability, determined to prove he’s more than just a dominant interior presence and elite rebounder. And he’s got the numbers to back it up.
The 6-foot-9, 250-pound projected lottery pick knocked down 40.9% of his 3.7 three-point attempts per game this season at Duke, establishing himself as a dependable catch-and-shoot threat with solid volume.
His ability to impact the game across all facets is a big reason why he remains firmly in the top-three conversation for the upcoming NBA Draft. Boozer led the nation in offensive win shares (6.3) and defensive win shares (3.2), while also posting the best defensive rating in the ACC at 91.5 per 100 possessions.
“First of all, whoever says my three-point shot needs to improve clearly just didn’t watch me,” Boozer said.
“My senior year (of high school) I shot 47% from three. Right now I’m shooting 40% from three, so that would just be incorrect.”
When you combine that all-around production with his efficiency from beyond the arc, it’s no surprise his draft stock continues to soar.
Questions about Boozer’s outside shooting have lingered since his days at Columbus High School in Westchester, Florida—but as he prepares for his March Madness debut, those critiques seem more outdated than ever.