If it’s not stunning, it’s only because it’s become familiar. Still, it remains striking every time 6-9 freshman Cameron Boozer, one of the ACC’s rebounding leaders, steps out to the perimeter and calmly, smoothly launches and makes a 3-pointer as an organic part of Duke’s offense.
Boozer, as is well known by now, possesses a broad range of offensive skills and is leading the Blue Devils in areas from scoring to assists to steals.
In Duke’s most recent game, at home against Wake Forest, the 250-pound
Boozer paced the Devils not only in scoring, rebounds, steals (3), and free throws (7 of 7), but in 3-point shooting. He made 3 of 8 attempts from 3-point range; the rest of the squad combined to make 4 of 17.
“Cam is never satisfied, I think that’s the great thing about him,” said Jon Scheyer. “He’ll find something from tonight’s game, I’m sure, where he’s pissed at, he didn’t do as well, even though he had 32 (points), nine (rebounds) and four (assists). That’s what makes him special. He’s wired, he’s all about his teammates. He’s not about numbers, he’s about winning. I think when your best player is that way, it becomes contagious and have a big effect on the rest of the group.”
Watching Cam Boozer comfortably launch threes is reminiscent of 6-10, 259-pound Wendell Carter Jr., whose first few long-range probes from the top of the key in 2017-18 were unexpected considering his height, girth, and defensive role.
Carter, now with the Orlando Magic and a teammate of another one-year Duke wonder, Pablo Banchero, averaged better than a three tried per game in ‘18, converting at a .413 clip on a 29-8 Blue Devil squad.
In that, Carter resurrected a common practice in the early years of the 3-pointer, when Danny Ferry, Christian Laettner, and then Cherokee Parks, all towering post players, employed the shot with powerful effect.
More recently, although it generally eludes notice, Duke continues to employ 3-pointers as a key component of its attack. For example that ‘18 team with Wendell Carter, along with Marvin Bagley III and perimeter shooters Grayson Allen and Gary Trent Jr., ranked third in the ACC in 3-pointers made, fifth in 3-point accuracy. Those Devils finished with a 29-8 record and reached an NCAA regional final.
Where this team winds up is of course anybody’s guess, but Boozer’s 3-point shooting, every bit as much as Isaiah Evans, will be a notable factor in deciding its fate.
| DUKE’S BIG MAN PARADIGM (Minimum 1 Att/Game) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| 3% | Post Player | Year | 3Att |
| .425 | Danny Ferry | 1989 | 106 |
| .413 | Wendell Carter Jr | 2018 | 48 |
| .397 | Danny Ferry | 1987 | 63 |
| .377 | Cameron Boozer | 2026 | 77 |
| .365 | Cherokee Parks | 1995 | 65 |
| .357 | Christian Laettner | 1992 | 97 |
| .349 | Danny Ferry | 1988 | 109 |
| .348 | Kyle Filipowski | 2024 | 112 |
