Cameron Boozer might be the obvious best player in college basketball this season, but the general consensus around the Duke superstar is that he's likely destined to go No. 3 in the 2026 NBA Draft behind BYU's AJ Dybantsa and Kansas' Darryn Peterson.
That spot holds true in Sam Vecenie's latest mock draft on The Athletic, with Boozer going No. 3 overall to the Atlanta Hawks, where he would join former Duke star - and budding NBA superstar - Jalen Johnson.
On Boozer, Vecenie writes:
"Boozer is the safest bet in the class to become a remarkably productive player. There is consensus around the NBA that the son of Carlos Boozer is likely to follow in his father’s footsteps as an NBA All-Star. What teams wonder is whether he profiles as more of a No. 1 option or as a great No. 2 guy like Kevin Love."
Cameron Boozer and Jalen Johnson would be a devastating duo in Atlanta
The Hawks chose to move on from Trae Young at the NBA Trade deadline, shipping him to the Wizards, and are moving forward with building around Jalen Johnson. Johnson was the No. 20 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft by the Hawks, and after a slow start to his professional career, he has emerged as a budding superstar.
Johnson is averaging 22.7 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game in his fifth NBA season. He's got a legitimate shot at making an All-NBA team this year.
Adding Boozer to the Hawks' frontline would give Atlanta one of the best forward combos in the league. They would play well off of one another, with size, versatility, passing, and some shooting.
Boozer is one of three Duke players projected in The Athletic's mock. Sophomore center Patrick Ngongba II is projected at No. 20 to the Toronto Raptors as the only other projected first-rounder for the Blue Devils.
Sophomore wing Isaiah Evans is projected in the early second round at No. 36 overall to the San Antonio Spurs. It will be interesting to see if Evans would return to Durham for his junior year if he's given a second round grade, though his recent performances could be boosting his stock.