‘It’s not close’: Mike Krzyzewski names best freshman in college basketball originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
With the NCAA Tournament right around the corner, college basketball fans across the country are about to see a wave of elite freshmen take center stage — and potentially go head-to-head.
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Many view this class as one of the best in recent memory, headlined by expected 2026 NBA lottery picks like Darryn Peterson of Kansas, BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, Houston guard Kingston Flemings and Duke star Cameron Boozer.
While several others have impressed, those four have stood out most when healthy and on the floor. But during an appearance on “The Field of 68” on Monday, legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski made his stance crystal clear — among this group, Boozer is the best, and in his words, “it’s not close.”
“He’s the best one, I think. If you want to pick two, okay, but to me, it’s not close,” Krzyzewski said “This kid is so dependable, so poised, and he puts up amazing numbers in scoring, passing, and rebounding. He sets a physical tone for a team that opponents have to match… and he can really shoot.
“He’s almost automatic. I’ve gone to a number of games, and he has great feet and balance. His rebounding is incredible, he’s strong, he has great hands … he’s had as good a year as any freshman that has ever played here.”
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While there may be some natural bias given his Duke ties, Krzyzewski might not be wrong. Boozer is firmly in the National Player of the Year conversation and has backed up the hype all season.
Replacing last year’s top freshman, Cooper Flagg, was no easy task, but Cameron Boozer has more than lived up to expectations, helping position Duke as the No. 1 ranked team in the country entering the final week of the regular season before turning its focus to conference tournament and NCAA Tournament play.
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Through 29 games, he’s averaging 22.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists while shooting an efficient 57.7% from the field and 40.2% from beyond the arc.
