Duke basketball recruiting pledges Cayden and Cameron Boozer Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Duke Basketball: Boozer Twins Fall to No. 1 Prospect

Originally posted on Duke Blue Devils on SI
By Matt Giles | Last updated Oct 21, 2024 6:35 AM ET

In September, Columbus High School (Fla.) five-stars Cayden and Cameron Boozer totaled 72 points to power a 95-72 win over Utah Prep despite 43 points from its top-ranked 2025 talent, AJ Dybantsa. Plus, the two early 2025 Duke basketball commits fueled a 71-62 championship victory when their Nightrydas Elite team faced Dybantsa and the Oakland Soldiers at Peach Jam back in July.

But Dybantsa, an undecided five-star phenom forward whose announced reclassification last October knocked Cameron Boozer down to No. 2 overall on the 247Sports 2025 Composite, appeared determined to get his payback on Sunday night.

Squaring off against Columbus at The Border League in Las Vegas, the 6-foot-9, 210-pound Dybantsa tallied 28 points, four rebounds, and two assists to ensure Utah Prep prevailed, 69-68, thus avoiding another loss to the twin sons of 2001 Duke basketball national champ Carlos Boozer.

AJ Dybantsa outduels the Boozer bros, finishing with 28 and some more beautiful iso scoring tape. Effortless shot creation with how high he elevates on jumpers at 6'9". And obviously a special shotmaker. Even on the off-balance looks, still so much control rising up. pic.twitter.com/QipOeMoSwL
— Jonathan Wasserman (@NBADraftWass) October 21, 2024

Cameron Boozer, a 6-foot-9, 235-pound gifted wonder in the paint and beyond, came up empty on the Explorers' last possession due to a shot-clock violation. However, his prowess in the contest, to the tune of 20 points and 10 rebounds, ignited an impressive comeback after trailing by as many as 16 points in the second half.

Cameron Boozer muscles through to pull The Explorers to within 4, @UtahPrepMBB leads 56-52 with 7:30 left in regulation at @brdrleague.

➡️ESPN 2 pic.twitter.com/DgtalxEu3w
— League Ready (@LeagueRDY) October 21, 2024

Cayden Boozer, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound savvy floor general boasting a No. 21 composite ranking in the class, chipped in 17 points. And he came up one dime short of turning in a double-double of his own.

AJ Dybantsa came out flame throwing with 14 points early, but Cayden Boozer’s hot hand is keeping the Explorers close.@UtahPrepMBB leads The Explorers 25-17 with 7:47 left in the first half at @brdrleague. pic.twitter.com/tH6mEHfTMy
— League Ready (@LeagueRDY) October 21, 2024

Currently, the Boozer brothers are Duke's only 2025 recruiting prizes. That said, their recent commitments amount to the Blue Devils holding a No. 9 ranking in the cycle, per 247Sports.

Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer extended an offer to Dybantsa in early May. Roughly three months later, though, the potentially record-shattering NIL beneficiary excluded the blueblood recruiting powerhouse from his seven named finalists.

This article first appeared on Duke Blue Devils on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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