Duke-bound energy ahead from FAB 50 nationwide champ Columbus (Fla.) makes historical past in being named 2025 Mr. Basketball USA by Ballislife.com. Cameron Boozer concludes a spectacular profession with a memorable senior season that ends with the Explorers ending No. 1 within the FAB 50 Nationwide Group Rankings. Additionally the 2023 Mr. Basketball USA alternative, Boozer is the primary two-time Mr. Basketball USA honoree since LeBron James in 2002 and 2003. Boozer is joined by 4 different nationwide participant of the yr candidates on all 10 ballots within the remaining Mr. Basketball USA Tracker balloting. The primary Mr. Basketball USA Tracker was performed in 2008, the primary actual time alternative got here in 1996 and our retroactive picks date again to 1955.
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A Duke-bound ahead who led his workforce to the FAB 50 nationwide title has earned the nation’s most prestigious particular person honor. If somebody mentioned that participant was Cooper Flagg they might be right. In 2024 as a senior at Montverde Academy (Fla.), Flagg was named Mr. Basketball USA and this yr as a collegiate freshman at Duke was named NCAA Participant of the 12 months. He is on the quick observe to changing into the No. 1 decide of the 2025 NBA Draft.
As soon as once more the nation’s prime highschool participant is headed to Duke and though there is no such thing as a assure he’ll have the school success of Flagg, he is had a highschool profession that has been matched by only some of the sport’s all-time greats. That participant is Cameron Boozer of Columbus (Miami, Fla.) and immediately is honored with the title of 2024-25 Mr. Basketball USA.
At present’s announcement means Boozer makes historical past in additional methods than one. He’s the one honoree relationship again to 1955 to attend a Florida Excessive College Athletic Affiliation (FHSAA) program and is just the second ever two-time Mr. Basketball USA honoree in actual time. The opposite is LeBron James when he dominating the motion at St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio) in 2002 and 2003. Retroactively, all-time highschool greats Lew Alcindor of Energy Memorial (N.Y.) and Jerry Lucas of Middletown (Ohio) had been additionally twice named the nation’s prime highschool participant again when (together with Wilt Chamberlain earlier than them) they emerged as first true “rockstars” of highschool basketball. That trio of massive males had been identified nationally for his or her youth and prep exploits and anticipated to be collegiate and professionals stars whereas nonetheless in highschool.
“Yeah, it’s loopy,” Boozer instructed Ballislife. “Actually, it’s been a loopy journey and I’m tremendous grateful for all of it! To be categorized with such a small group of men who’ve received the award twice is an incredible feeling and hopefully I can do extra successful on the subsequent stage and the one after that.”
The Mr. Basketball USA Panel to find out the nationwide participant of the yr was shaped for the 2007-08 season. Previous to that season, the factors used to find out the honoree was the identical (particular person accolades, workforce success, school and professional potential, and so forth.) and there may be little doubt James would have topped the poll of the 10-man panel of nationwide scouts if performed in the identical method. Whereas there is no such thing as a ensures for Boozer’s future success based mostly on his historic highschool resume, one esteemed member of Ballislife’s 10-man panel gave a clue to how highly-regarded a majority of the voters maintain Boozer’s skills.
“Cameron Boozer constructed a highschool, Nike EYBL, camp, USA Basketball resume over 4 years that few – if any – have equaled, or are more likely to ever method,” mentioned panel member and U.S. Basketball Writers Affiliation Corridor of Famer Frank Burlison. “I wouldn’t guess in opposition to he and his brother (Cayden Boozer) successful a nationwide title at Duke a yr from now earlier than they head into the NBA for the 2026-27 season.”
This season, 24 candidates acquired recognition for the production-based nationwide participant of the yr honor, in comparison with the 31 when Flagg was the decide final season. Boozer was one in all 4 candidates to seem on all ten ballots and fairly frankly it was anticipated to be a three-horse race with Boozer, Darryn Peterson of FAB 50 No. 3 Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) and A.J. Dybansta of FAB 50 No. 23 Utah Prep (Hurricane, Utah).
Many followers, and skilled expertise scouts alike, anticipated the ultimate tracker voting to yield a photograph end, however surprisingly that did not occur. The panel rewarded Boozer for main a workforce with great expectations (Columbus began out preseason No. 1 within the FAB 50), for assembly these expectations (Columbus completed No. 1 and was the primary non academy-type program to win Chipotle Nationals) and doing so whereas being individually dominant. For the season, the ability ahead with glorious vary and passing capability averaged 22.1 ppg, 11.8 rpg, and three.2 apg for a 30-3 membership that beat 20 groups that had been FAB 50 ranked sooner or later in the course of the season.
Boozer earned eight first-place votes value 10 factors every, one second-place vote (value 9 factors) and one third-place vote (value eight factors) to complete with 97 factors. Peterson, whose workforce beat Columbus within the Explorers’ first sport of the season, completed second with 90 factors. The taking pictures guard headed to Kansas had one first-place vote, six second-place votes, two third- place votes and one fourth-place vote (seven factors). Dybansta, a jumbo sized wing headed for BYU who some really feel has a terrific probability to emerge as the highest decide within the 2026 NBA Draft, earned one first-place vote, two second-place votes, 5 third-place votes, one fourth-place vote and one sixth-place vote (5 factors) good for 80 general factors. The one different candidate to seem on all ten ballots was Tennessee sure Nate Ament of FAB 50 No. 19 Highland (Warrenton, Va.). The 6-foot-10 wing is taken into account a terrific long-term prospect and he completed in fourth place with 51 factors, together with three fourth-place votes.
The panel doubtless factored in profession success and being constantly nice is the place Boozer stands out over any candidate of latest reminiscence.
In all 4 on his seasons, the Explorers captured a FHSAA Class 7A state title. The Boozers (Cayden will be a part of Cam at Duke) not solely led this system to 4 consecutive Class 7A state crowns, however to a 117-16 four-year document in opposition to loads of nationwide competitors and to a FAB 50 title this season.
“It was a three-man race from minute one this season; as soon as Peterson built-in himself together with his nice play early within the season,” mentioned panel member Van Coleman. “It got here all the way down to an amazing season, and the best profession of latest occasions, and the primary to ever to win this award as a sophomore.
(Dybansta) ought to have had the within observe, nevertheless it didn’t fairly work out with the workforce. If you take a look at the all-star video games, probably the most constant performer within the all-star video games was him (Boozer). This child, I keep in mind earlier than his sophomore yr, got here to NBPA High 100 camp, and he was a prime 3-4 participant within the camp. It was a significant shock how good he was. It’s been a profession lengthy factor with him. I believe Cam earned it. I believe it was the explanation why on the finish, the hole was a bit wider as a result of the profession turned out as anticipated. When his workforce wanted the wins, he was the man left standing.”
Consistency clearly issues and expertise alone was not sufficient alone to separate a trio of candidates comparable to Boozer, Dybansta and Peterson. Boozer is the primary participant to earn class participant of the yr honors in every of his freshman, sophomore, junior and senior season since O.J. Mayo of Huntington (W. Va.) between 2004-2007.
Be mindful, it took a expertise of Flagg’s caliber on an all-time highschool workforce to maintain Boozer from incomes Mr. Basketball USA honors for un unprecedented three consecutive seasons. After changing into the primary sophomore ever to earn the honour in 2022-23, Cam Boozer completed in third place in final yr’s balloting with 78 factors whereas being one of many 4 (together with second place finisher Dylan Harper and Dybansta) to seem on all ten ballots.
I’m appreciative of all of it and there have been numerous guys who’ve helped me through the years and I wouldn’t be right here with out everybody in my nook,” Boozer mentioned. “So, tremendous grateful for the journey I’ve been on and prepared for what’s to return sooner or later.”
Cam Boozer’s highschool success is in contrast to something we have seen in latest occasions and he was rewarded for it. One thing tells us his work ethic, expertise and consistency will repay for years to return.
Editor’s Notice: Click on on the “+” signal subsequent to every participant’s quantity to view what number of first, second, third or fourth place votes he received and his general level whole. Earlier tracker outcomes are additionally listed (“Prev.”).
RankPrev. NameHigh School1st2nd3rd4thTotal
12Cam Boozer (10)Columbus (FL)811097
23Darryn Peterson (10)Prolific Prep (CA)162190
31A.J. Dybansta (10)Utah Prep (UT)125180
47TNate Ament (10)Highland (VA)000351
57TBrayden Burries (8)Roosevelt (CA)011050
69Koa Peat (7)Perry (AZ)000132
715TTounde Yessoufou (6)St. Joseph (CA)000128
812TDarius Acuff (7)IMG Academy (FL)001025
95Chris Cenac (6)Hyperlink Academy (MO)000019
106Caleb Wilson (5)Holy Innocents (GA)000015
1118TMikel Brown Jr. (4) DME Academy (FL)000013
1212TCayden Boozer (3) Columbus (FL)00008
13T4Brandon McCoy Jr. St. John Bosco (CA)00017
13T11Maleek Thomas OTE (GA)00017
15T18TMalachi Moreno (2)Nice Crossing (KY)00006
15T15TTyran Stokes (1)Notre Dame (CA)00006
15TNRJaden Toombs (2)Dynamic Prep (TX)00006
18T15TNik Khamenia (1)Harvard-Westlake (CA)00003
18TNRC.J. Rosser (1)Northern Nash (NC)00003
20T12TKingston Flemmings (1)Brennan (TX)00002
20TNRBraylon Mullins (1)Greenfield-Central (IN)00001
22T20TChristian Collins (1)St. John Bosco (CA)00001
22TNRJaxon Richardson (1)Columbus (FL)00001
22TNRJordan Smith Jr. Paul VI (VA)00001
2024-25 Mr. Basketball USA Tracker Panel
Paul Biancardi, ESPN Nationwide Director of Basketball RecruitingFrank Burlison, BurlisonOnBasketball.com PublisherVan Coleman, Nothing However Web MagazineJordan Divens, Maxpreps.com Nationwide Basketball EditorRonnie Flores, Ballislife.com Nationwide Grassroots EditorChris Lawlor, Blue Star Media Nationwide AnalystHorace Neysmith, AllMetroHoops.comPatrick Stanwood, Patrick Stanwood BasketballDinos Trigonis, Fullcourt Press Editor & PublisherAni Umana, 5StateHoopReport.com
About Basketball USA Tracker PanelBallislife.com’s panel of 10 specialists, which incorporates six McDonald’s All-American choice committee members, casts its vote for the highest nationwide participant of the yr candidates. Every panelist lists his prime seven candidates no matter class. The votes are then tabulated on a 10-point scoring system with a first-place vote equaling 10 factors, a second-place vote incomes 9 factors and all the way down to 4 factors for a seventh-place vote. The quantity in parenthesis refers back to the numbers of ballots on which a participant appeared and former rankings refers to place within the earlier tracker.
For the all-time listing of Mr. Basketball USA honorees, CLICK HERE.
Ronnie Flores is the nationwide Grassroots editor of Ballislife.com. He may be reached at [email protected]. Do not forget to comply with him on Twitter: @RonMFlores
