Cayden Boozer’s path back to Duke turned out to be a little less straightforward than it looked at first glance.
The Boozer twins were one of the most watchable parts of Duke’s season, but they won’t be together in the same way next year. Cameron Boozer was a lottery pick to the Memphis Grizzlies, while Cayden Boozer chose to stay in Durham. Still, a CBS report suggests Duke may not have been his only option before he settled on returning for his sophomore season.
Cameron Salerno wrote, “People will likely remember the end-of-game sequence against UConn in which Boozer turned the ball over, which led to Braylon Mullins hitting one of the most iconic shots in NCAA Tournament history. What people might not remember is how good Boozer played when Foster went down with the foot injury.
"Boozer did a great job running the offense. Returning to school was the wise decision despite industry sources indicating to CBS Sports that a transfer had been on the table for him before deciding to return for his sophomore season,”
That makes Boozer’s decision worth watching a little more closely. If he was considering the portal, it suggests he was at least weighing a bigger role and more touches somewhere else.
At Duke, though, the expectation is still that he’ll serve as the backup point guard, even as a sophomore. He had stretches last season where he was very good, especially late in the year, but the reality is he probably isn’t one of Duke’s five best players. That says more about how loaded Duke is than it does about Boozer’s ability.
And this may not be the last time his name surfaces in transfer talk. If he doesn’t get drafted next year, and some don’t believe he will, there’s a real chance he could explore the portal again. His name alone would make him an attractive option for plenty of schools.
If he does eventually leave, the appeal is obvious: a place closer to home, or a program where he could step into a starring role. For now, though, he’s back at Duke after at least briefly considering a different route.
In Other News...
Dukes Receiver Battle Could Force A Tough Roster Decision
Fall camp has given Duke plenty to sort through as it builds toward the 2026 season, and the wide receiver room may be one of the trickiest puzzles on the board. The Blue Devils are replacing key production there, and transfers Jared Richardson and Javen Nicholas have emerged as the leading options while the staff tries to settle the depth chart.
The real squeeze comes behind those two, where returners Jayden Moore, Jaivon Solomon and Jamien Little are all vying for what looks like one remaining meaningful role. With competition this tight, Duke may not be able to keep everyone happy, and the possibility that one of those receivers looks elsewhere if the snaps do not come is hanging over the position battle. [Read more 🡒]
Dukes Offense May Depend On More Than Nate Sheppard
Dukes offensive blueprint this fall sounds built around a familiar idea: lean on the run, stay on schedule and let the game come to the Blue Devils. Sophomore back Nate Sheppard is expected to be the primary ball carrier, and the recent scrimmage work backed that up, with Sheppard leading the ground game while CJ Campbell Jr., Wilhelm Daal II and freshman CJ Givers also got involved.
But the bigger question for Duke may be whether that backfield can do enough on its own to make the plan work. The staff wants ball control and fewer turnovers, which puts added pressure on the quarterback race, where the deciding factor is less about flash than who can best protect the football and keep the offense moving. [Read more 🡒]
Former Duke Five Star Just Added A Twist To Kentucky Move
Mark Mitchells move to Kentucky has taken on a legal wrinkle, even as his basketball future looks pointed toward Lexington. The former Duke and Missouri forward entered the transfer portal, committed to the Wildcats and was expected to suit up for Kentucky next season, which would make the upcoming year his third stop in college basketball.
A Kentucky court has now granted Mitchell a temporary restraining order that lets him pursue a fifth season, adding another layer to an already unusual path. For Kentucky, it keeps the door open on an experienced frontcourt addition, but the situation is still unsettled enough that the final resolution will matter well beyond a routine transfer announcement. [Read more 🡒]