Cameron Boozer: The No. 3 Pick of the 2026 NBA Draft

When the Memphis Grizzlies selected Cameron Boozer with the No. 3 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, they didn't just add a talented young player — they added the consensus national player of the year in college basketball, a winner at every level he's ever played, and a young man with basketball in his DNA. Here's the full story on who Cameron Boozer is and why Memphis fans should be very excited.

Topics Covered: NBA Draft, Basketball, Memphis Grizzlies

Who Is Cameron Boozer?

Cameron Boozer is an 18-year-old (turning 19 in July) forward from Miami, Florida who played his one and only college season at Duke University. At 6'9" and 253 pounds, he combines genuine size and physicality with the kind of skill set — passing, shooting, scoring, rebounding — that is extremely rare in a player so young. He is the son of Carlos Boozer, a two-time NBA All-Star who played 13 seasons in the league for teams including the Utah Jazz, Chicago Bulls, and Los Angeles Lakers.

Basketball, in other words, has always been Cameron's world. And he has spent his entire life proving he belongs at the top of it.

A Career Built on Winning

Long before Cameron Boozer set foot on Duke's campus, he had already collected an extraordinary résumé. He became the youngest player ever named Gatorade National Player of the Year at just 15 years old — a distinction he claimed twice. At Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, he won a state championship, earned Florida Mr. Basketball three consecutive times, and won Mr. Basketball USA honours twice. On the international stage, he led Team USA to gold at both the 2023 FIBA U16 Americas Championship and the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup, winning MVP at both tournaments.

The word that comes up most often when people describe Boozer is "winner." He has been on the winning side almost everywhere he's gone, at every level, against progressively tougher competition.

His Season at Duke

Boozer committed to Duke — his father's alma mater — alongside his twin brother Cayden. In his one and only college season, he was nothing short of dominant.

He averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game, shooting 55.6% from the field and 39.1% from three-point range. He tallied 22 double-doubles and led Duke to a near-perfect 29-2 regular season record before the Blue Devils reached the Elite Eight in March Madness. By the end of the season, he had swept virtually every major national award: the Naismith Men's College Basketball Player of the Year, the Wooden Award, and the AP National Player of the Year. ESPN's Jay Bilas called him "the best pure basketball player in the draft."

What Makes Him Special

Boozer's most exceptional quality isn't his scoring or even his rebounding — it's his passing. He reads the floor like a point guard, making decisions ahead of the play and consistently finding open teammates before defences can react. For a 6'9" forward, that kind of vision is genuinely rare and makes him far harder to defend than a player who only scores.

His scoring game is complete: he bullies smaller defenders in the post using footwork rather than just brute force, can hit mid-range jumpers off the dribble, draws fouls consistently, and has an improving three-point shot. Defensively, his strong frame, active hands, and high IQ allow him to guard multiple positions and stay out of foul trouble — something that gives coaches confidence to play him big minutes from day one.

Scouts widely considered him the most NBA-ready player in the class. He led college basketball with a 17.1 box plus-minus score, a comprehensive metric that captures overall impact on both ends of the floor.

The Draft Night

Boozer was one of three players — alongside BYU's AJ Dybantsa and Kansas' Darryn Peterson — considered legitimate candidates for the No. 1 pick in what was widely viewed as one of the strongest draft classes in recent memory. After Dybantsa went to Washington at No. 1 and Peterson to Utah at No. 2, Memphis called Boozer's name at No. 3 — right where most projections had him.

"I don't even know how to describe it, honestly," Boozer told ESPN's Lisa Salters moments after being selected. "It's crazy. Instant happiness. Instant joy. Basically, my whole life in a couple of seconds, so it's amazing for sure."

His New Home in Memphis

Memphis went 25-57 last season and is in the middle of a rebuild, which actually puts Boozer in a good position: he'll have the opportunity to grow into a featured role without the pressure of a win-now team around him. He's expected to line up alongside centre Zach Edey, forming a physical and versatile frontcourt that could become one of the better young duos in the league as both players develop. Young teammates Cedric Coward and Jaylen Wells round out a roster with genuine potential.

Boozer is carrying his father's advice into his rookie year: "Every day is an opportunity to get better and attack the day."

Common Questions

Where is Cameron Boozer from? Miami, Florida.

Where did he play in college? Duke University, where he was named National Player of the Year in his only season.

Which team drafted him? The Memphis Grizzlies selected him with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Is he related to Carlos Boozer? Yes — Cameron is the son of Carlos Boozer, a two-time NBA All-Star.

Does he have a twin? Yes, his twin brother Cayden Boozer also committed to Duke and played alongside him.