Cameron, Cayden Boozer begin sturdy in house debut for Duke

DURHAM, N.C. — Cameron and Cayden Boozer had already gotten a style of enjoying for Duke at its famously rowdy campus enviornment in exhibition and fan occasions.

On Saturday, the dual brothers — thought of among the many nation’s prime freshmen — had a robust begin of their first official recreation at Cameron Indoor Stadium because the sixth-ranked Blue Devils beat Western Carolina 95-54.

“I just love the fact they both are incredibly impactful, but they’re also on their own journey of becoming really good players and really helping us,” coach Jon Scheyer stated of the sons of former Duke and NBA participant Carlos Boozer.

The 6-foot-9, 250-pound Cameron had 25 factors, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and a block in 23 minutes of labor. Cayden, a 6-4 guard, had 14 factors, 7 rebounds and 5 assists in 27 minutes because the preseason ACC favourite rolled previous a workforce picked to complete seventh within the Southern Conference.

The McDonald’s All Americans teamed as much as win huge at Christopher Columbus High in Miami with 4 state championships and a nationwide title finally 12 months’s Chipotle Nationals. Cameron arrived in Durham ranked as ESPN’s No. 3 nationwide recruit and seen as a high-end NBA prospect, whereas Cayden was ranked No. 16.

Now they’re a part of Duke’s newest top-ranked recruiting class, with Cameron the inside presence and Cayden within the backcourt on the level.

They had twice skilled a few of Cameron’s buzz, first on the annual “Countdown to Craziness” occasion that stands as a ceremonial kickoff to the season and included an intrasquad scrimmage. They additionally performed in an exhibition house recreation in opposition to the UCF program coached by former Duke nice Johnny Dawkins, with Cameron going for 33 factors and 12 rebounds whereas Cayden went for 9 factors and 5 assists.

Did Saturday really feel completely different?

“For sure, a little different,” Cameron stated. “I’d say ‘Countdown’ was definitely special, though. The first time playing in Cameron with fans there, the environment, the intros and everything. It was super cool. ‘Countdown’ really felt like the first one at Cameron.”

Duke additionally gained an exhibition recreation at No. 18 Tennessee then gained its opener in opposition to Texas in Charlotte, North Carolina, on the first Dick Vitale Invitational.

“Obviously it’s more important since it’s the regular season,” Cayden stated of enjoying his first regular-season recreation at Cameron Indoor Stadium. “But those exhibition games really help. Playing against really good players in college … really good teams. I feel like all those games prepared us for today, and Texas that we had on Tuesday.”