Boozer Wins Two Major Awards! Multiple Orbital Fractures, No Surgery: Draft Floor is Third Pick

On April 6 Beijing time, Duke University star Cameron Boozer, after a phenomenal freshman season, secured another prestigious honor. Days after being named AP Player of the Year, Boozer became the 10th Duke player to win the Naismith College Player of the Year award. He is also a finalist for the Wooden Award, which will be announced on April 11.

This 6-foot-9 forward carried immense expectations from the start. As the son of two-time NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, he followed his father's path to Duke. In high school, his performance even surpassed his father's, ranking No. 3 nationally in the 247Sports composite rankings. He averaged 22.5 points with a 55.6% field goal percentage, including 39.1% from three-point range; he also led the ACC in rebounds with 10.2 per game and dished out a team-high 4.1 assists.

The last men's college basketball player to average 20+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 4+ assists per game as a freshman or sophomore was Larry Bird in the 1976-77 season.

Consistency defined Boozer's season. He scored 20+ points in 23 games, never had a single-digit scoring game, and recorded 22 double-doubles in 38 contests. Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman predicts he will be selected with the third pick, following BYU's AJ Dybantsa and Kansas' Darlin Peterson.

“This 18-year-old already holds two FIBA MVP awards and gold medals, four high school state championships, and three EYBL Peach Jam titles. Even if he didn't lead Duke to a national championship, some evaluators worry whether his height and athleticism can sustain their advantage in the NBA,” Wasserman said.

“But there is also a large contingent of Boozer believers who trust only his track record, mental toughness, on-court problem-solving, and evolving all-around ball-handling and shooting skills. While becoming the top pick requires meeting a specific GM, the third pick appears to be his floor.”

As a freshman, Boozer's spotlight at Duke didn't reach the levels of Zion Williamson or Cooper Flagg, but the statistics speak for themselves.

Additionally, Boozer suffered an eye injury during Duke's Elite Eight loss to Connecticut. After being named the 2026 Naismith College Player of the Year, Boozer revealed to reporters that he has multiple orbital fractures and is currently recovering.

Boozer also stated that he has chosen not to undergo surgery.

The Duke-Connecticut matchup was intensely physical. During the game, Boozer was seen on the sidelines using a chilled beverage can on his orbital area to reduce swelling. The injury, however, didn't seem to hinder his performance. The freshman star played 39 of the 40 minutes, shooting 10-for-21 and scoring a game-high 27 points.

Ultimately, Duke lost 72-73 after Breylon Mullins hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 0.4 seconds left. Duke became the first No. 1 seed in NCAA Tournament history to lose a game after leading by at least 15 points at halftime.

Currently, there is no information on how long Boozer's recovery period will be. The NBA Draft Lottery will take place on May 10, and the Combine will run from May 10 to 17.