Top-ranked '25 prospects Cameron Boozer, Cooper Flagg talk recruiting

While the recruiting classes of 2023 and 2024 have been downplayed as average to below-average overall groups talent-wise, the 2025 class is the other end of the spectrum. There are multiple high school sophomores that could stake a claim as the country’s best high school player, regardless of age. A pair of them were in action over the weekend up in Springfield, Mass., and will be the most sought-after prospects over the next two years with high-profile recruitments.

Those two are 6-foot-8 power forward Cameron Boozer and 6-foot-7 small forward Cooper Flagg, who are respectively ranked as the No. 1 and No. 2 overall prospects in the class of 2025, per the On3 Consensus. You don’t need to be an NBA Draft expert to know just how insanely talented they are.

Boozer has the family pedigree as the son of longtime NBA veteran/two-time All-Star Cameron Boozer while Flagg has made his mark by playing up and thriving with Team USA over the summer, leading to a gold medal and later being named the youngest ever 2022 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year. Both players could play college basketball tomorrow and not have any troubles — they’re physically ready right now and possess impressive basketball IQs. As one might imagine, every school in the country is going to want to make a pitch.

KSR was in Springfield for the 2023 Hoophall Classic where we got a first-hand look at both recruits. Boozer plays for Florida-based Christopher Columbus High School in Miami while Flagg is in his first year with powerhouse program Montverde Academy (also out of Florida) after growing up in Maine. Both players were in action for two games each during the five-day event, shining against older competition.

Boozer exploded 33 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, three blocks, and two steals in game one against San Ysidro (CA) before dropping 18 points, 13 rebounds, four rebounds, one block, and two steals a couple of days later against Bronny James and Sierra Canyon (CA). Christopher Columbus won both outings.

Meanwhile, Flagg (who plays on a roster that features nearly a dozen future Power 5 players) went for 21 points, five rebounds, three assists, one block, and five steals to beat La Lumiere (IN) then recorded eight points, four rebounds, three assists, one block, and two steals in a win over Sunrise Christian Academy (KS) two days later.

The talent of those two is through the roof, which means the conversations surrounding their recruitment will only grow from here. But don’t expect to know everything that’s going on at this stage — they both do an excellent job of keeping information tight to the vest. Boozer and Flagg were made available for questions after their games last weekend, providing some tiny glimpses into their recruiting processes so far.

Spoiler alert: they haven’t come close to making any sort of decision (although both have been linked to Duke in the past, particularly Boozer, whose dad played under head coach Mike Krzyzewski from 1999-2002).

“Just to take my time, focus on me, not really compare myself to others, a lot of time the media and people can try to compare you to other people and it can get in your head sometimes,” Boozer told the media about how he’s approaching his recruitment. “Just focus on yourself and be the best player you can be… I’m taking things slow, weighing on my options. Just taking my time, not really worried about that right now. Just trying to get better, see who calls, and see who has interest.”

“I don’t really think about all the recruiting stuff, to be honest,” Flagg added.

Focusing on Boozer first, he’s heard from every school you could imagine. Duke is clearly one of them, but as a sophomore, the NCAA rules make it tough to grow a direct relationship with the staff. The connection with his dad and Duke curbs that slightly, but Cameron went out of his way to say nothing is a foregone conclusion with the Blue Devils.

“Just cause my dad went there doesn’t mean I’m a lock to go there,” he added. “I still have other schools that are looking at me, other schools that I’m looking at. Just keeping my interest open.”

The likes of Miami (FL), Michigan, Florida State, Memphis, Florida, Arkansas, and, of course, Duke, have already offered him. Kentucky is not one of the schools to extend a scholarship just yet, but Boozer told the media his favorite player is former Wildcat Anthony Davis and that he models his game after the eight-time NBA All-Star.

“Anthony Davis is definitely my favorite player to watch,” Boozer said. “He can do it all. He can rebound, he can pass, he can shoot it, he finishes well, he’s just a guy who’s been really dominant for a couple of years. He’s hurt a lot but when he’s healthy he’s one of the best players in the league.”

While Boozer hasn’t yet begun to form a relationship with UK, he already knows about the program’s history of success.

“They’ve always been good, they’re a very talented team, they play hard, they defend well,” Boozer said of Kentucky. “They’re just a great program in general, one of the top teams, Blue Bloods. It’s a great program.”

Boozer plays at Christopher Columbus alongside his twin brother, Cayden, who is also a highly-regarded prospect in his own right. Cayden is considered a four-star prospect and the No. 22 overall sophomore in the On3 Consensus. Cameron noted that he would like to play at the next level with Cayden, but it’s not a requirement.

Moving on to Cooper Flagg, the versatile wing with floor general-like tendencies isn’t ready to dive all the way into his recruitment just yet. He’s mentioned Duke as his “dream school” in the past, but oftentimes that phrase doesn’t end up coming to fruition once it’s all said and done. Flagg is keeping all of his options open while letting his mother handle the bulk of the recruiting so far.

“Dream school obviously,” Flagg said about Duke. “But there are still so many options that I still want to look into.”

Offers have been rolling in for Flagg as of late, including ones from Iowa, UCLA, Michigan, Duke, West Virginia, and Georgia. He currently doesn’t have any visits on the docket.

Unlike Boozer, Flagg is new to the Florida area after growing up in Maine where he was the first-ever freshman named the Maine Gatorade Player of the Year. But now he’s playing with the “big boys” and looking just as comfortable. Montverde’s head coach, Kevin Boyle, has coached multiple future No. 1 NBA Draft picks such as Cade Cunningham and Ben Simmons, along with several other lottery picks including Joel Embiid, RJ Barrett, and Scottie Barnes. Flagg could be next in line.