Overview
- Duke announced Thursday that guard Cayden Boozer bypassed the transfer portal and will play his sophomore season in Durham.
- He took on a larger role after Caleb Foster’s ankle injury, starting all three ACC Tournament games and four NCAA Tournament games.
- Across 38 games as a freshman, he averaged 7.7 points, 3.0 assists and 2.3 rebounds in 22.8 minutes while shooting 50% from the field and 30.3% from three.
- His tipped pass on Duke’s penultimate possession in the Elite Eight led to UConn freshman Braylon Mullins hitting the game‑winning three.
- Analysts say retaining Boozer lessens Duke’s need for a portal guard and sets up a backcourt that includes five‑star recruit Deron Rippey Jr., with stay‑or‑go calls still pending for Caleb Foster, Isaiah Evans and Patrick Ngongba II.