Cayden and Cameron Boozer, twin sons of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, are set to make their extremely anticipated faculty debut at Duke this fall. The South Florida natives, each prime recruits within the 2025 class, had been on the Nike Hoop Summit final month to showcase their video games with the opposite prime highschool and worldwide prospects throughout the globe in Portland, Oregon.
Cayden, a stoic playmaking flooring basic, emphasised his court docket imaginative and prescient and movie examine habits whereas Cameron, a flexible ahead who fashions his sport after Jayson Tatum and Paolo Banchero, talked about embracing the fashionable sport whereas staying grounded in classes from their father.
In a dialog with HoopsHype, the twins opened up about staying within the second, dealing with adversity, changing into the subsequent nice Duke duo, and extra.
Cayden Boozer: I imply, it’s nice. Having somebody which you can belief it doesn’t matter what is admittedly good being inside these experiences, as a result of, I imply, the adversity of all these camps is fairly tough. So having someone you may all the time know you may discuss to and simply belief on the court docket, it makes the sport quite a bit simpler.
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Cayden: I imply, positively, as a result of I used to be all the time smaller than him once I was youthful. I used to be truly simply actually small on the whole till sixth grade – I had a seven-inch progress spurt. I went from 5-foot-3 to 5-foot-10, after which I began rising after that. However we all the time knew we had completely different play kinds and we knew how one can play with one another as a result of our play kinds had been so completely different. Since our play kinds weren’t tremendous related, it didn’t have an effect on the opposite gamers. So it made the sport quite a bit simpler.
Cayden: Jamal Murray, Shai, Jalen Brunson, Devin Booker – simply the very best guards. I’m simply attempting to steal from everybody, even Jrue Vacation, a extremely good defender. Simply attempting to steal from everybody somewhat bit, however be the very best model of myself. On the finish of the day, I wanna be the primary Cayden Boozer, not the upcoming of someone else. So simply attempting to steal from all of the greats.
Cayden: I’ve all the time been a degree guard the place I’m making reads for my teammates. Clearly, as I’m getting older, I’m gonna be enjoying with plenty of good gamers within the league. If I’m enjoying with a star, I’m gonna have to have the ability to catch-and-shoot and mess around these guys. So I’m attempting to do each, however I’ve all the time performed on ball. Regardless of the group wants me to do, I’m joyful to do.
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Cayden: Simply how I management the sport. It’s a talent to manage the sport. Lots of level guards, particularly after they’re younger, have plenty of turnovers. I really feel like my entire highschool profession, I actually haven’t had that many turnovers. And my assist-to-turnover ratio has been actually excessive. So I really feel like that’s one thing that’s been underrated for me.
Cayden: It took time. It took time. I imply, sophomore yr I had a sport in opposition to Imhotep (HS) the place I’ve needed to undergo these struggles. And clearly being a degree guard at this degree, it’s laborious. There are plenty of different good guards that you just’re attempting to compete with and simply attempt to separate your self from them. So I knew I used to be a extremely good passer, so I needed to be good with my passes and attempt to assist my teammates win it doesn’t matter what. It was a course of for positive. However if you’re watching movie and also you’re enjoying these video games, you’re getting these sport reps, you’re gonna get higher at it. You’re gonna be capable of simply learn the sport quite a bit simpler.
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Cayden: It’s positively simpler. We’re tremendous trustworthy with one another and we hold one another in examine. We don’t need both of us to get complacent as a result of it’s only the start of our journey. Clearly, we’ve had a terrific highschool resume, however it’s gonna change on the faculty degree. We’re gonna have to start out over once more, and the NBA is gonna begin over once more. So we gotta hold one another in place and ensure we don’t get complacent.
Cayden: I imply, simply to remain within the second. Your entire life you’re wanting ahead to what’s gonna occur subsequent. However if you’re staying within the second, you’re gonna cherish it and also you’re gonna have the very best within the current. And clearly, your future’s gonna be nice if you get there. However simply keep within the second – these reminiscences are gonna final a lifetime. You don’t wanna destroy them wanting on the future. So simply keep within the second. I had a extremely dangerous sport with too many turnovers.
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Cayden: I’ve talked to gamers like Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Immanuel Quickley – simply guards which are there. And the primary factor is simply to maintain working. Lots of guys like the approach to life of it, however they don’t perceive that you need to hold working if you get there to remain there. So simply to maintain working and keep within the second.
Cayden: I imply, clearly we had a extremely heartbreaking loss within the Last 4. However the expectation for any Duke group is to win a nationwide championship. I really feel like with the group that we now have, and hopefully we’ll see who’s coming again and who we’re gonna switch for, however I really feel like we’re gonna have a extremely good shot to win a nationwide championship. And that’s the usual. We wouldn’t need anything in addition to that. So the aim is to win a nationwide championship.
Cayden: I imply, everyone knows that Duke’s actually hated by most faculties. So I imply, I’m high-quality enjoying the villain function. We wanna win at Duke. So if which means we’re gonna be villains, then which means we’re gonna be villains.
Cayden: Clearly we’ve gained quite a bit in highschool. So some folks won’t need us to win. However I imply, it’s most likely gonna be quite a bit greater at that stage as a result of it’s the largest stage in faculty basketball. So I’m positive it’s gonna be a distinct sort of adversity, however I’m excited for it. I’ve been dreaming about this since I used to be somewhat child. So I’m wanting ahead to it.
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Cameron Boozer: Yeah, it’s superb to have the ability to be right here with the highest 12 guys within the nation. It’s a terrific feeling – compete with among the finest gamers and play among the finest worldwide gamers. It’s gonna be a very good take a look at for us and we’re gonna get after it.
Cameron: I imply, it’s particular to undergo it with somebody you’re so near, have somebody by your aspect. It helps somewhat bit as nicely and I believe it makes it extra gratifying on the similar time.
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Cameron: It’s superb to go to varsity with somebody I’m so near, that’s my brother. We lived collectively and all the things, did all the things collectively our entire life. So our aim is simply to go there, to compete, and win a nationwide championship.
Cameron: I imply, I’m simply attempting to be the very best model of me, truthfully.
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Cameron: I see myself as somebody who can do all of it. No matter you want me to do on the court docket, I can do.
Cameron: Lots of Tatum, Paolo, even some guys like Giannis – greater wings.
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Cameron: For positive.
Cameron: I imply, I assume you may say that. I believe largely what I get from it’s simply studying the expertise and what it takes to be a professional.
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Cameron: To remain within the second, to work laborious, and simply have the fitting mindset.
Cameron: After all it was powerful. I had plenty of nice faculties, plenty of nice teaching workers as nicely. So after all it was a tricky determination for me. However finally, Duke was the fitting determination for me going to the subsequent stage of my profession.
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Cameron: Yeah, after all, we’re excited. I imply, huge footwear to fill, however we’re not apprehensive. We all know the form of guys that we’re bringing in, and we all know the form of aggressive spirit we now have. I believe we’re gonna be nice subsequent yr.
And what’s your expectation then – nationwide championship this season?
Cameron: Yeah
Cameron: I don’t suppose so. I’d say most likely the Thompson twins, simply because they’re from South Florida like we’re, and so they’re doing plenty of nice issues as nicely.
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Cameron: I imply, I’m unsure what he did, however that was positively humorous.
He doesn’t discuss to you about it?
Cameron I imply, we nonetheless get it on my feed. We’ve talked about it earlier than, however it’s humorous.
