The season didn't end the way he wanted, but Duke superstar freshman Cameron Boozer had a truly special year for the Blue Devils.
On Friday, Boozer earned his latest Player of the Year nod. The AP named him the National Player of the Year as widely had been expected. Boozer becomes just the fifth freshman to ever win the award, joining elite company.
The last three to do it all played at Duke, with Boozer joining Cooper Flagg (2025) and Zion Williamson (2019). The Blue Devils are the only program to have multiple freshmen take home the award.
The other two were Kentucky's Anthony Davis (2012) and Texas' Kevin Durant (2007). Davis is the only freshman to win the award and lead his team to the National Championship.
Cameron Boozer wins the AP National Player of the Year Award
Of the four previous players to win the award, three of them were selected No. 1 overall in the following NBA Draft (Flagg, Williamson, Davis). Durant ultimately was picked No. 2 in the 2007 draft, but it was obvious in quick retrospect that he should have gone No. 1 overall, too.
Could that be Boozer's fate?
As of now, it appears that both BYU's AJ Dybantsa and Kansas' Darryn Peterson are more likely to be selected with the top pick in this summer's NBA Draft, though the decision could ultimately come down to which way the ping-pong balls bounce and who ultimately is selecting at the top of the draft.
Boozer has his detractors, but he received 59 of 61 first-place votes for the AP Player of the Year award. He was easily the best player in college basketball this season, and the concerns about his ability to translate at the next level will look awfully silly in retrospect.
Perhaps as silly as the Blazers picking Greg Oden over Kevin Durant, even.