Duke's Cameron Boozer Wins Prestigious Wooden Award

Freshman phenom joins elite company as fifth freshman to claim national player of the year honor.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 2:49am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a college basketball player's dynamic movements and performance, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the energy and skill of the game.Boozer's Wooden Award triumph represents the pinnacle of his standout freshman season at Duke.Today in Pittsburgh

Duke University basketball player Cameron Boozer has been named the winner of the prestigious Wooden Award, cementing his status as one of the top college basketball players in the country. Boozer, a highly touted freshman, averaged over 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists per game this season, leading the Blue Devils to a strong campaign.

Why it matters

Boozer's Wooden Award win puts him in elite company, as he is just the fifth freshman ever to claim the national player of the year honor. This achievement further solidifies Boozer's status as one of the most promising young talents in college basketball and a likely top pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.

The details

Boozer swept the major national player of the year awards this season, winning the Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy, and being named the AP, USBWA, NABC, Sporting News, and CollegeInsider.com National Player of the Year. His impressive stat line of 22.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game helped drive Duke's success on the court.

  • Cameron Boozer won the Wooden Award on April 11, 2026.

The players

Cameron Boozer

A highly touted freshman basketball player at Duke University who won the prestigious Wooden Award as the national player of the year.

Cooper Flagg

A former Duke basketball player who, like Boozer, won the Wooden Award as a freshman.

Zion Williamson

Another former Duke basketball player who won the Wooden Award as a freshman.

Anthony Davis

A college basketball player who won the Wooden Award as a freshman, prior to being drafted first overall in the NBA.

Kevin Durant

A college basketball player who won the Wooden Award as a freshman, prior to being drafted second overall in the NBA.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Cameron Boozer's Wooden Award win is a testament to his incredible talent and hard work this season. He's proven himself to be one of the elite players in the country.”

— Adam Gretz, Freelance Writer

What’s next

Boozer is projected to be the top overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, where he will look to continue his basketball career at the professional level.

The takeaway

Cameron Boozer's Wooden Award win as a freshman cements his status as one of the most promising young talents in college basketball. His accomplishment puts him in elite company alongside other legendary freshman award winners, and sets him up for a likely high selection in the upcoming NBA Draft.