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Duke’s Cameron Boozer wins 2026 Wooden Award
TL;DR
Cameron Boozer won the 2026 John R. Wooden Award after an impressive freshman season at Duke, becoming the fifth freshman to achieve this honor. He is the ninth Blue Devil to receive the award, joining a prestigious list of former winners.
Cameron Boozer was named the 2026 John R. Wooden Award winner after a historic freshman season at Duke. He becomes the fifth freshman to receive the honor, joining fellow Blue Devils Cooper Flagg and Zion Williamson, and notable basketball stars Anthony Davis and Kevin Durant.
Boozer becomes the ninth Blue Devil to earn the honor. In addition to Flagg and Williamson, he joins former Duke players JJ Redick, Alana Beard (women's), Jay Williams, Shane Battier, Elton Brand and Christian Laettner.
Named after legendary UCLA men's basketball head coach John Wooden, the award is an annual honor presented to the most outstanding men's and women's collegiate basketball players in the United States. Boozer was named a finalist last week and ultimately won the award over fellow finalists Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas), AJ Dybantsa (BYU), Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan) and Braden Smith (Purdue).
Winning the award showcases just how dominant Boozer’s freshman season was, especially given the competition among the finalists.
Expectations were high coming into his freshman season as Boozer was not only tasked with filling the shoes of another freshman legend, Cooper Flagg, but had to establish his own legacy in the shadow of his father, Carlos Boozer. He responded well, making history both at Duke and nationally in an impressive freshman season that saw him average 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists.
Led by Boozer, the Blue Devils finished with a record of 35-3 (17-1 in the ACC) and won the conference tournament for the 24th time in program history, the most of any program in the conference. Duke earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament and reached the Elite Eight, falling short in a frustrating matchup against the UConn Huskies.
In 38 games played, Boozer set a Blue Devil record for the most win shares in a single season (10.4), and his 885 total points and 389 total rebounds were the third most in a single season by a Duke player.
Boozer was recently named to the Naismith Player of the Year. He was also named to the first-team AP All-American, and was nearly a unanimous selection for the AP’s men’s college player of the year, receiving 59 of 61 votes. Those honors add to an already impressive collection, which includes being named the 2026 ACC Player of the Year and becoming the first Division I player to win the National Association of Basketball Coaches’ Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Big Man of the Year awards.
Though Boozer has yet to officially declare for the 2026 NBA Draft, he is widely expected to enter the 2026 NBA Draft, where he projects as a top-three pick.
This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Duke’s Cameron Boozer wins 2026 Wooden Award
Q&A
Who are the previous winners of the Wooden Award from Duke?
Previous Wooden Award winners from Duke include Cooper Flagg, Zion Williamson, JJ Redick, Alana Beard, Jay Williams, Shane Battier, Elton Brand, and Christian Laettner.
What is the significance of the John R. Wooden Award?
The John R. Wooden Award is an annual honor recognizing the most outstanding men's and women's collegiate basketball players in the United States, named after the legendary UCLA coach.
Who were the finalists for the 2026 Wooden Award alongside Cameron Boozer?
Finalists for the 2026 Wooden Award included Darius Acuff Jr. from Arkansas, AJ Dybantsa from BYU, Yaxel Lendeborg from Michigan, and Braden Smith from Purdue.
