LOS ANGELES -- Duke freshman Cameron Boozer has officially moved to the top of the Wooden Award race, surging past Purdue’s Braden Smith and a loaded group of first-year stars one month into the men’s college basketball season, according to BetOnline.ag.
The second-generation Blue Devil, and son of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, arrived at Duke with plenty of expectations. But few predicted he would dominate this quickly. Boozer is averaging 23.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.7 steals and one block per game while shooting an efficient 55.9% from the field and nearly 37% from deep. Those numbers already compare favorably to former Duke phenom Zion Williamson, who won national accolades during his electric one-and-done season in Durham.
Meanwhile, a freshman class widely hyped as one of the most gifted in recent memory has lived up to its billing, with names such as AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson headlining early preseason conversations. Yet Boozer has separated from the group with a combination of production, maturity and consistency that has made him the focal point of Duke’s offense. He has also been relentless attacking the rim, getting to the free-throw line seven times per game.
The rising star now stands as the clear favorite for the prestigious Wooden Award, given annually to the most outstanding player in college basketball. Updated odds list Boozer at 1/2 (-200), with Smith at 7/1 and Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg at 10/1. Kansas’ Peterson, BYU’s Dybantsa and Texas Tech’s JT Toppin are also firmly in contention, along with Alabama guard Labaron Philon and Iowa standout Bennett Stirtz.
The Wooden Award race has a long history of shifting as the season unfolds, especially as conference play begins and national profile games ramp up. But Boozer’s current trajectory suggests he could hold his lead well into the spring, particularly if Duke continues to win and his numbers remain at national-player-of-the-year levels.
If Boozer maintains his pace, he could become the latest Duke freshman to capture college basketball’s most coveted individual honor. And with the Blue Devils once again in the national spotlight, the freshman sensation has already positioned himself as one of the sport’s biggest storylines of the 2025-26 season.