Duke’s Freshman Brothers Are Fueling the Blue Devils’ Success

The Blue Devils started slow, shooting a lot of threes that just weren't falling. Some of the freshmen looked a bit off-kilter facing an experienced Knights lineup. However, they cleaned it up in the second half and found their groove in the paint.

Guard play will be important to watch as Duke plays its second exhibition contest in Knoxville against No. 18 Tennessee and in the season-opener against Texas in Charlotte on Nov. 4.

Still, the first showing for Duke's young players against a Power 4 team provided reason to be optimistic that the team could hit the ground running. One of those reasons is a pair of brothers who could share the floor this season often.

Cameron & Cayden Boozer's Following In Father's Footsteps

Cameron Boozer was the gem of Scheyer's latest recruiting class. Cayden Boozer, Cameron's twin brother, has battled for a starting role. The brothers were a package deal coming to Durham, where their father, Carlos Boozer, shined before becoming a two-time All-Star in the NBA.

Both brothers have the potential to be one-and-done, first-round picks in the upcoming NBA Draft. Cameron, a 6-foot-9 forward, started in Duke's exhibition contest and balled out, scoring 33 points and pulling in 12 rebounds.

He made 4-of-7 shots from three and pounded in the post in the second half to lead to the blowout final score. His size and ability to both score comfortably from all three levels and defend all five positions on the floor make him one of the most intriguing players to watch this season.

Cayden, a 6-foot-4 guard, was a top-five player at his position in this recruiting cycle. He struggled out of the gate against the Knights, unable to get into lanes and cut toward the basket. However, he picked it up in the second half, scoring nine points and dishing out five assists in 23 minutes.

His biggest competition for a starting job is also a potential mentor in junior guard Caleb Foster. Foster is one of the more experienced players on the team, but he saw his playing time dwindle last season. Boozer's passing ability makes him an ideal fit as a floor general for Scheyer, but there is plenty he can learn from the veteran.

He does leave something to be desired in the shooting department, but that isn't what Duke is going to need him to do all the time. There are plenty of reliable shooters on the team, like Isaiah Evans, that Boozer can facilitate within the offense.

If he can command the floor, spread the ball around and occassionally be physical enough to get in the lane and score, it will be hard to leave him off the court.

Cameron and Cayden could both end up being stars in Cameron Indoor Stadium like their father. They both know how to win, and with the immense amount of expectations placed on them this season, that shouldn't be overlooked.

Scheyer is hoping to bring a championship back to Durham for the first time since 2015. The Boozer brothers were the first pair to join Duke's illustrious recruiting class, and they have a chance to be the reason the Blue Devils cut down the nets this season.

It will be interesting to see if Cayden can carve out a starting role, and how well the brothers play together this year.