Duke's do-it-all power forward Cameron Boozer is hands down the best college player this season. Interestingly, however, he continues to lag in many mock drafts for the number one pick in this year's NBA Draft .
Such takes make me wonder what is making pundits and observers continue to be unconvinced that he deserves to be the top pick.
Boozer, who has been a proven winner at every level he has played in, including in international play, has been having one of the more solid and efficient freshman campaigns in US college history. He has been getting it done on both ends, with averages of 22.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 58.3 percent from the field and 40.7 percent from three.
His dependable and no-nonsense style of play has helped the Blue Devils to the top of the college rankings with a 29-2 record, making him a huge favorite to come away with the National Player of the Year award.
But seemingly, these same qualities of his game have been working against him as a potential number one pick in the NBA, as many evaluators look at him as not flashy to watch or having a limited ceiling moving forward, as compared to other high-profile prospects.
Fellow freshmen AJ Dybantsa of BYU and Darryn Peterson of Kansas have taken turns as the top pick in mock drafts all season long ahead of Boozer. Of course, both of them are very talented players as well.
Dybantsa leads the nation in scoring with 24.7 points and is an incredible athlete who combines height and athleticism as a wing player, often drawing Tracy McGrady comparisons. Peterson (19.9 points on 59.2 percent shooting), for his part, boasts of superior range and shot-making skills as well as being a solid defender.
But despite all that they bring, there is no denying that Boozer is by far the most consistent and has the most polished game among the three.
And the beauty of Boozer's all-around game is that he fits the plug-and-play player to a T, who would do well in the NBA. He can play with anybody and adjust to any system in The Association.
He can be effective in a lot of different roles, while you'll probably have to adjust your system to incorporate Peterson and Dybantsa, because both of them thrive the most with the ball in their hands. Boozer is great both on and off the ball, which will do great for him coming into the league.
Looking at the teams that could possibly end up winning the lottery and select first in the draft in June, Boozer could make an immediate impact with all of them.
The Indiana Pacers , currently holders of the worst record in the league at 15-50, could certainly use a power forward with the skill set of Boozer to partner with an All-Star point guard like Tyrese Haliburton. He also fits well playing in the front court alongside veterans Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac, giving him the opportunity to further expand his game.
Sacramento (16-51) has long been a picture of instability. Boozer's consistency and basketball IQ are something the Kings could use and build on in trying to turn things around, especially if they decide to eventually part ways with All-Star Domantas Sabonis.
It is going to be the same thing if he lands with the Washington Wizards (16-48) or the Brooklyn Nets (17-48), as he gives them a young cog ready to step up and deliver to work with, improving their level of competitiveness in the immediate future.
The ongoing race to be the 2026 NBA Draft top pick has reminded many observers of the one that happened in 2018, with Boozer's predicament being likened to that of Luka Doncic , who was selected third overall that year.
Boozer's athleticism and defense, as well as his upside, are being questioned now in a very similar way to Doncic's.
As it turned out, all the buzz surrounding Doncic's complete game was true as billed and he has turned out to be the best player from that rookie class, along with reigning league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
They have considerably overshadowed what the top two picks that year, DeAndre Ayton and Marvin Bagley III, have done in their careers, even though they were looked at as the "higher ceiling" players at the time, just like Dybantsa and Peterson are looked at now.
And it wouldn't be surprising if Boozer ends up taking the Doncic route (even though they're different positions) and lives up to projections as the best talent available in his class with his still-evolving, formidable play across the board. Now, Ayton and Bagley III were never looked at as the generational type of talent like Dybantsa and Peterson are, but still, the "higher ceiling" comparison still stands.
In further building his case as a potential number one pick, Boozer can use the upcoming NCAA Tournament, where Duke is highly likely to be the top overall seed.
Like all season long, Boozer will do well in the competition. In a win-or-go-home setting like that in March Madness, consistency is important and the freshman sensation has every bit demonstrated that.
He is also not one to shy away from pressure-packed games, as attested by his performances against top-tier teams this season.
Against defending national champions Florida (25-6) back in December, the Blue Devils held tough, led by Boozer's 29 points, for the 67-66 win. Then in their 68-63 victory over Michigan (29-2) last month, he was at it again, posting a near triple-double of 18 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Boozer and Duke finished the regular season last weekend with their eighth straight win, defeating rival North Carolina , 76-61, with him posting a 26-15-5 stat line.
It bears noting, however, that the NCAA Tournament time and again rewards team play, but with Boozer leading the way for the Blue Devils, it is hard not to like their chances of winning it all.
Given how the race for the top overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft has shaped up, it is going to be a guessing game until draft night. Boozer has provided an impressive body of work, as a freshman at that, like nobody in his class and for him to continue to be rated below where he is supposed to be is unjust.
NBA scouts are too often enamored by the potential of the prospects, labeling guys like Boozer as low-ceiling players, just because they're already so polished coming in. Physically, he's not Dybantsa or Peterson, but skill-wise, he'll enter the NBA as the better player than the two of them.
And he still has a lot of room to improve.
March Madness is the perfect time for him to convince others as well that he should be the number one overall pick.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
