Five-star forward 2025 Cameron Boozer He made headlines opening the spring by saying Kentucky was a “completely different program” under Mark Pope following the departure of John Calipari. He also added that Coach Cal compared his move to Fayetteville to relocating a high-profile company: “Same coach, just moving the headquarters,” he said.
After being seen as a shrewd dark horse for Duke legend Carlos Boozer’s son, Kentucky is off to a shaky start with the consensus No. 2 overall in the growing senior class, to put it lightly.
Positive movement with Kentucky
However, as the dust settled, the tone changed slightly for the better, and Pope approached the five-star prospect’s mother to begin laying the groundwork for the Boozers’ recruiting alongside his twin brother and fellow five-star. stars Cayden Boozer. .
“We haven’t really talked yet, but (Coach Pope) talked to my mom before,” Cam Boozer said. “We’ll see what happens there. … Like I said before, it’s still a completely new recruiting process. I haven’t really talked to him and I don’t really know what it is about. “I don’t know his playing style or anything like that, so it would still be a whole new process if he approached (me).”
The good news? Lexington made a good impression when the Boozers officially visited in September (their first trip of the recruiting cycle), so Kentucky isn’t totally starting from scratch here.
Pope has some ground to make up, but he has something to work with.
“Kentucky has one of the best facilities I’ve ever seen,” the No. 2 overall prospect told KSR. “I haven’t really seen much of his playing style, but I’m sure he’s a great coach. We’ll see where that goes.”
Recruitment updates elsewhere
How are things going in other aspects of your hiring? Not much has changed since we spoke with Boozer in Memphis for EYBL Session I, the five-star still keeping mum on visits and decision timelines.
He told KSR that he had a top-secret visit planned in the near future to open the spring, but could not yet reveal where or when it would be.
“You’ll have to see,” he said.
What about a possible decision?
“Um, you gotta see it, man. I have to see it,” Boozer added, only confirming that he has a plan to make an announcement at some point.
Poker face, calm and collected. Do not tilt your hand in any direction. However, he was willing to reveal who he prioritizes at this stage of his recruiting, finally including the Wildcats on that list after previously leaving them out in Memphis.
“Duke, Florida, Miami, Michigan and Arkansas are there,” he said. “Kentucky might get in there a little bit, those are the top schools. And UNC too.”
Building relationships
As for what he’ll look for when it comes time to narrow things down and get closer to a decision, confidence will go a long way for the 6-foot-10 forward out of Miami.
“Being able to trust the coach, having a coach that believes in me,” Boozer said. “Being in a system that I like and in a place where I can see myself developing, hopefully, for the NBA, if that’s where I end up. “Those are the main things, and making sure my mom is comfortable too.”
Boozer currently leads the EYBL in scoring and rebounding, putting up 24.5 points and 12.9 rebounds per game, while adding 3.3 assists on 60.5% shooting and 84.1% from the line at 29.0 minutes per game. There has not been a more dominant player night in and night out on the tour, consistently producing at the highest level every time he plays on the court.
He did it all last weekend with college coaches sitting courtside during the first live period of the spring, with Mark Pope and his staff among the spectators.
“It’s great to be able to play in front of all these scouts,” he told KSR. “It’s a great opportunity for everyone in the gym. You notice them all, how can you not? During the game (you don’t see them), but after or before… well, maybe if it’s a 30-point blowout you could watch. But during the game you don’t realize it.”
What have you been seeking to prove?
“I’m just a competitor and I’m always there to win,” he added. “We have a great team, a winning team. “I think that’s the main thing I show.”
Impact on coaching changes
The Cal coach leaving for Arkansas and Mark Pope replacing him at Kentucky dominated the national conversation in April, but the coaching carousel wasn’t limited to the Razorbacks and Wildcats. How did that affect Boozer’s decision and how do you navigate the final stretch of his recruiting in what is sure to be a hectic summer and fall leading up to the early signing period?
“When Cal went to Arkansas we maintained the same relationship we had, just at a new school, so we have to reevaluate the situation. The same will happen with Pope’s trip to Kentucky; It will be a completely new evaluation. It definitely changes things and makes it a little more difficult, but I’d say it’s still the same. … (Schools with familiarity may have an advantage) to some extent, but I don’t know. Not so much, I would say. “I think it’s more about the relationship you have with people, not really where they are.”
One thing you can count on: Boozer’s father won’t be calling the shots, no matter how much Duke wants him to suit up in Durham or how much the average college basketball fan assumes the twins will follow in his footsteps with the Blue Devils. .
“He just wants me to make the right decision for me,” she said. “I’m grateful that I’m not in a situation where I have to take care of my parents, or my parents put pressure on me in a certain way on things off the court. I am grateful for that because he puts me in a better situation for my future and what is best for me.”
How Boozer will make his decision
Instead, he will focus on the coaching staff that builds the best relationship with him and lay out a plan to push him to become the best version of himself and the NBA.
“Just someone who seems genuine,” Boozer said. “You can tell when someone is being real and what they are there for, versus when they are not being genuine. That’s really it, for me it’s about the trust factor. … It’s not really pressure, but it’s definitely a difficult decision to make. I will say that.”
The door is ajar for Pope and his staff. We’ll see how hard they decide to take advantage of that opening.
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