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Jeff Borzello
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Jeff Borzello
ESPN staff writer
- Basketball recruiting insider.
- Joined ESPN in 2014.
- Graduate of University of Delaware.
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Paul Biancardi
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Paul Biancardi
Basketball Recruitment
- National Recruiting Director for ESPN.com
- 18 years of coaching experience at the Division I level
- Former Horizon League Coach of the Year at Wright State
Arguably the most intriguing head-to-head recruiting battle in the 2025 class ended Friday when brothers Cameron Boozer (ESPN 100 No. 2) and Kayden Boozer (ESPN 100 No. 17) announced they would play for the Duke Blue Devils. over the Miami Hurricanes the following season.
John Scheer and the Blue Devils finally won what was a nearly 2½-year recruiting process that began with a Duke offer (followed two weeks later by an offer from the Hurricanes).
It’s a testament to the Hurricanes’ ability to stay competitive for the Twins as their recruiting process stretches. The initial idea was that the players would simply follow in the footsteps of their father, Carlos Boozer, and play at Duke — one of the biggest brands in college sports — in the Final Four just 18 months earlier, instead of staying in Florida State, where they live, to join a nearby program.
How important was the recruiting win for Duke? What kind of players are the Blue Devils getting? And what happens with the rest of Miami’s 2025 recruiting efforts? Let’s break it down.
Player styles and comparisons
Cameron Boozer: Ranked No. 2 in the ESPN 100 in high school basketball with a high basketball IQ and the most fundamentally sound player. The 6-foot-9 power forward has an outlet pass reminiscent of Kevin Love with the aggressive polish of Paolo Banchero. He led the EYBL in points and rebounds per game and can impact the game in non-scoring areas when needed. He is projected as a lottery pick in the 2026 NBA draft.
Kayden Boozer: Ranked No. 17 in the ESPN 100 and one of the game’s best passers, has a physical frame and a game that resembles former ACC Player of the Year Trey Jones — also a former Blue Devil. The 6-5 point guard has the durability and organization of the offense and also plays like Jones defensively. He also shows similarities in his play and demeanor to former Utah standout and NBA veteran Andre Miller. A no-nonsense and reliable guard with tenacity and leadership, he was named MVP of the Pitch Jam U16 Championship Game and led the U17 World Cup in assists per game. He is projected to be a first-round NBA draft pick.
