Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball: Boozer Twins Watch Blue Devils Lose Again

With five-star recruits Cameron and Cayden Boozer in attendance, Duke basketball fell at home to Arizona.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
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Friday night's 78-73 loss to No. 12 Arizona in Durham probably didn't seriously ding the Duke basketball staff's chances of landing the twin sons of 2001 Blue Devil national champion and two-time NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer.

RELATED: List of Every Recruit Holding a Blue Devil Offer

On the other hand, had the No. 2 Blue Devils outgunned the Wildcats down the stretch, that Cameron Indoor Stadium memory would've set a more favorable tone for the remainder of this weekend's official visits from Columbus High School (Fla.) five-star juniors Cayden and Cameron Boozer. It could have left them with an unforgettable positive experience.

Oh well. It didn't happen.

Adding to the letdown of what otherwise seemed to be a fun time for the Boozers as they sat a few feet from big-time November college hoops (note: their self-contained expressions are the norm and reminiscent of Carlos Boozer at their age) was the fact the Blue Devils didn't consistently display vintage Duke basketball prowess and togetherness.

"We didn't play together," second-year head coach Jon Scheyer explained afterward, "and that's hard for me to swallow. That's not OK for us. We didn't play Duke basketball, and I take full responsibility for that."

That was also the case in early February when Cameron (named after Cameron Indoor Stadium) and Cayden attended what remains Duke's second-most lopsided defeat of the Scheyer era, a relatively uninspired outing en route to an 81-59 loss at ACC foe Miami.

Both Boozer brothers have held Blue Devil offers since May 2022. Scheyer and his crew were among the first official suitors for Cayden Boozer, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound guard ranked No. 17 overall on the 247Sports 2025 Composite, and Cameron Boozer, a 6-foot-9, 235-pound forward ranked No. 2 in the class.

Their trip to Duke marks their fourth official visit this fall. They recently checked out Kentucky, Miami, and Florida.

And it's worth noting that last week, Carlos Boozer, now a broadcaster for the ACC Network, hinted at UNC basketball's season opener that the Blue Devils' archrival will get a chance to host his sons in the spring:

Will that implied visit coincide with the Duke-UNC showdown in Chapel Hill, giving the Blue Devils a shot to make the third time the charm in emerging victorious in a game with the Boozers on hand as recruits? Perhaps so, although that Feb. 3 meeting is technically in the winter, outside the spring timeframe Carlos Boozer mentioned.

Neither has named finalists or specified a timeline for choosing a college, and no 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions exist for either.

They are among nine 2025 talents on Scheyer's wishlist.

Last Unsigned 2024 Duke Commit Reveals Plans

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball recruiting news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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