Overview
- Boozer received the Wooden Award on Friday at the Los Angeles Athletic Club during the honor’s 50th anniversary, with inaugural winner Marques Johnson announcing him.
- The Duke forward averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists on 55.6% shooting, including 39.1% from three, in a standout freshman season.
- He led Duke to a 35–3 record, ACC regular-season and tournament titles, and the Elite Eight, where UConn advanced on Braylon Mullins’ 35-foot buzzer-beater in a 73–72 finish.
- The Wooden caps a sweep of major national honors for Boozer and makes him the fifth freshman to win it, as Duke extends its men’s record for total Wooden winners and follows last year’s freshman winner Cooper Flagg.
- Mock drafts now project Boozer in the top three to five, and he said the draft slot matters less than his long-term career, while UConn’s Sarah Strong won the women’s Wooden and is expected to return to Storrs next season.