Even after retirement, Mike Krzyzewski remains synonymous with the Duke Basketball program. For over 3 decades, Coach K lorded over the Final Four. He brought his Duke program here 13 times, winning 5 national titles and becoming a part of the Duke identity. He coached multiple talents like Grant Hill, Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum, Zion Williamson, and a host more. His talent ID is unparalleled. Of course, you want his opinion regarding Duke’s latest one-and-done prospect, Cameron Boozer. 

In two games so far, Cameron has already made his impact. He is averaging 20 points, 4 assists, 10 rebounds at 40.7% FG. It’s a commanding start to the  Duke prospect. Coach K explained that his build and athleticism are what set him apart. “Cam is our best player, and he’s way ahead of his age. And you know he has the body of a man. As big as he is, he has great feet and great feet, not good feet. And he understands the game. He’s really an intelligent player, but he can be a very physical player,” he said on the CBS Sports College Basketball YouTube Channel.

That’s the major advantage for Boozer. He can barrel through with his sturdy frame (235 pounds)  despite his 6’9″ height. He can finish through traffic and grab his own rebounds against taller opponents because of his eye for the ball. At the same time, he is also quick and athletic and can beat his opponents with speed.  This hybrid nature, coupled with His decision-making, makes him a threat from practically anywhere on the court.

However, many NBA scouts worry that his height will hold him back on a higher level. “His footwork is sublime on the block, and his strength makes him a mismatch nightmare. But he’s not massive, and that could lead to issues as he moves up levels,” wrote Sam Vecenie of The Athletic. Boozer still has time to prove them wrong, and he certainly has Coach K’s backing. 

“I haven’t seen, you know, the players yet that are playing in college basketball. All I’ve seen is a couple. I would have to say he’s got to be as unique as anyone. And we’ll see if he’s better than everyone, but he’s right there. He’s going to be right there. And he rebounds like crazy. You know, he’s a double-double guy, and he can really pass, too. So, don’t be shocked when you see that first triple-double,” He said. 

Boozer is arguably the most all-around talent among the big 3 this season ( AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson being the others). Boozer averaged 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 3.5 assists while shooting 55 % from the field, 40 % from 3, and 79.6 % from the foul line in 22 games at Columbus High School last year. 

With NightRydas Elite on the EYBL circuit this summer, Boozer averaged 23 points, 13 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. For a triple-double, Boozer will need to up his creativity, but there have been flashes of that already. He had 5 assists in their last game against Western Carolina and has the Veterans Day trip to Army next. In the Veteran’s Day game, Coach K will be making the trip to his alma mater, too. 

Jon Scheyer Amped for Coach K Tribute Before Veterans Day Army Clash

“Coach Krzyzewski’s legacy began here at West Point, and his career has embodied everything this institution stands for – leadership, discipline, and a lifelong commitment to excellence,” said Tom Theodorakis, Director of Athletics for the United States Military Academy. Coach K will be honoured by his college as the winningest coach in college basketball history. 

He started his playing career with the Black Knights men’s basketball team from 1967-69, leading them to two National Invitational Tournament (NIT) appearances, including 1 as a captain in 1969. His celebrated coaching career also started with the Knights in 1975. After 5 years, he moved to Duke with a 73-59 record under his belt. And the rest, as they say, is history. 1,202 wins later, Coach K retired in 2022, and Jon Scheyer had to fill his shoes at Duke. 

“It’ll be strange being on a flight with him, I don’t know if he’s going to be watching film or not,” Scheyer said with a laugh. “Maybe my first time on a flight with him where he’s not watching film. Or he probably will be watching film, who knows?” Coach K has not completely stepped away from Duke and basketball since his retirement. He maintains an office on campus and regularly attends games. He is also a Special Adviser to Basketball Operations for the NBA. Maybe he will give Scheyer some tips on maximising the talent he has. 

“To share this with him, to share this experience for our players, and then obviously to play a road game right away, I think will be a great thing,” Scheyer further said. “A ton of respect for our Army and their coaching staff, their team, and I’m looking forward to it.” Duke hasn’t played on the road against Army since 1997-98. Duke is a clean winner of the series (9-0), claiming a 100-58 win last season.  Despite the clean record, Jon Scheyer and Co. will look to improve and continue on their upward trajectory.