Jay Williams makes surprising Cooper Flagg vs. Cameron Boozer claim

Sami Haider

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Jay Williams makes surprising Cooper Flagg vs. Cameron Boozer claim image

The Blue Devils' 2025-26 season has been part of a new debate after ESPN analyst Jay Williams suggested Cameron Boozer could be more of a force to be reckoned with offensively than Cooper Flagg. 

Jay Williams drops hot take comparing Flagg with Boozer

Flagg put together one of the best freshman campaigns in college hoops history last season at Duke, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. He also earned National Player of the Year honors and was then drafted as the first overall in the 2025 NBA draft. 

Williams acknowledged the Maine native's two-way brilliance but sees something special brewing in Boozer's offensive game. "I feel like Cooper Flagg is more of a versatile utility player. He could do a lot of different things," Williams said when asked about whether Boozer could top Flagg's historic freshman season at Duke.

He added, "I think Cameron Boozer will have more of a force to be reckoned with offensively in the block. And if veteran guys around him develop, the game will be easier for Camp."

Williams’ eye-opening comparison on College GameDay immediately grabbed national attention as Duke faced Kansas.

The comparison isn't outlandish when you examine Boozer's early production. The 6-foot-9, 250-pound forward already dropped 35 points against Indiana State in just his fourth college game. 

Through his first five games, he averaged 21.6 points and 10.2 rebounds while shooting 76.9% from the field. Quite frankly, Boozer's interior scoring seems more consistent than Flagg's all-around approach.

The physical profile backs it up. At 250 pounds, Boozer arrives with an NBA-ready frame that outweighs Flagg by 45 pounds. That size advantage in the paint gives Duke a traditional post weapon they didn't possess last season, when Flagg operated more as a point-forward.

But replacing Flagg's impact isn't just about buckets. Flagg broke Duke's freshman single-season record with 179 free throws made and racked up 709 points. He was known for being a defensive maestro, while Boozer has the better scoring ability, which might give Duke a different ceiling. 

The conversation might just be heating up, but one thing's clear: another first-round pick, probably another number one overall, is getting ready for next year's NBA draft.

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Contributing Writer