As all eyes are on March Madness, a recent report from NBA insider Sam Vecenie reveals an ongoing fear among rival recruits hoping to land Cameron Boozer.

Vecenie's report highlighted a different angle associated with Boozer being a dream recruit, as the 6’9 forward added a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds in the Duke Blue Devils’ 81-58 win over TCU on March 22.

“A funny conversation that repeatedly comes up among scouts is that they don’t want Boozer to go to one of the best teams in the league”, Vecenie wrote. "They would be terrified if he ended up on, say, the Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics or San Antonio Spurs, because they know those teams would understand how to get the most out of his game."

He continued, "It looks like none of those three organizations will get the chance at him, given the way the LA Clippers (the Thunder own their first-rounder) and Atlanta Hawks (the Spurs own their first) have turned their seasons around. But that conversation says a lot about who Boozer is and how valuable he could be. He’s still in my top three."

Averaging 22.4 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists this season, Cameron Boozer’s offensive play is considered “elite” for his category. Shooting 56.3% from the field, 78.7% from the free throw, he’s also working on his 3P, which is 39.8%.

However, Sam Vecenie's report on Boozer wasn't entirely glowing, as it also flagged a major concern he should address.

Cameron Boozer’s Defense Remains a Problem

While the 18-year-old has demonstrated strong performance in the offensive line, Boozer continues to struggle defensively. In a recent game on Sunday, he managed just one block and three steals.

"It has become apparent that Boozer is a four-man who needs to play next to a legitimate five because of his lack of vertical athleticism," Vecenie wrote. "He struggles to protect the rim, which is why Duke's defense is drastically better when Patrick Ngongba is out there.”

“Boozer has also not been particularly good defending away from the rim, either”, he added. “He's an excellent communicator and often acts as a back-line captain, but scouts have worries about his lateral footspeed and especially his ability to go north-south and change directions on defense."

So, ultimately, what awaits Cameron Boozer at the end of his collegiate career depends on how much he fills in the gaps and improves.

Do you agree with Sam Vecenie's take on Cameron Boozer? Let us know!

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Written by

Deblina Roy

Edited by

Arvind Rao