Cameron Boozer wins Naismith, as Miami HS claims Heisman and top hoops honor
Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, Fla., is now on the receiving end of the ultimate college sports trivia question after Duke star Cameron Boozer was named the Naismith Men’s College National Player of the Year on Sunday.
In the 2021-2022 school year, Columbus High School had approximately 1,700 students. One of them was Boozer, the winner of college basketball’s highest honor. Another was former Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy less than four months ago.
Boozer beat out Darius Acuff Jr. of Arkansas, AJ Dybantsa of BYU and Yaxel Lendeborg of Michigan for the Naismith. He is Duke’s second Naismith winner in as many seasons after Cooper Flagg earned the honor in 2025. For the season, Boozer averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd, who led the Wildcats to their first Final Four in 25 years, was named Naismith Coach of the Year, also Sunday.
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When Boozer and his twin brother Cayden were freshmen, Fernando was a senior. The Boozer brothers didn’t talk to Fernando much in high school – probably because of the age difference – but they were friends with Fernando’s younger brother, Alberto Mendoza. Before Duke faced UConn in the Elite Eight last weekend, Boozer spoke with a small group of reporters in Washington, D.C., and was asked about his relationship with the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
“I never really talked to him,” Boozer said. “I know his younger brother Alberto because he’s 2024. From what I’ve heard from everyone, he’s a great guy, same with Alberto. Great guy. Great guys. Great family. I’m proud of everything they’ve accomplished. It’s awesome to go undefeated and win a national championship and win the Heisman. Well done, Columbus man. There’s a lot of important people coming out of this school. Super proud of everything what they represent. They represent our school and Miami well. Great people, very proud of them.”
The younger Mendoza was in second grade when the Boozer brothers were in their first year of school. With Boozer capturing the Naismith and Mendoza winning the Heisman, this marks the first time classmates from the same high school have won the award in the same year.
Notable Columbus High School alumni aside from the Boozer brothers and Mendoza include Miami coach Mario Cristobal, former NFL quarterback Brian Griese and former Alabama football coach Mike Shula. With Boozer also projected as a top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, he and Mendoza have the chance to move up the ranks as the school’s most famous alumni.
Helix High School in Southern California is a high school that joins Columbus in producing a Heisman winner and a Naismith National Player of the Year. Helix produced Bill Walton (three-time award winner, 1972-74) and Reggie Bush, 2005 Heisman Trophy winner. Bush had his award stripped for 14 years due to an NCAA investigation that found he received improper benefits.
Boozer and Mendoza took opposite paths to stardom
The journeys Boozer and Mendoza took to reach the top of their respective college sports are polar opposites of each other.
Boozer, the son of former NBA star Carlos Boozer, has always been considered a can’t-miss prospect since his freshman year. Mendoza was the opposite. He was a three-star recruit in the 247Sports rankings coming out of high school and had just one power conference offer.
The only offer Mendoza had out of high school was Cal. He ended up redshirting during the 2022 season and didn’t get his chance as a starter until the 2023 season. In his two years at Cal, Mendoza showed promise. But still, the idea of him becoming a Heisman Trophy winner and projected top pick in the NFL draft was incomprehensible just a few years ago.
But when Mendoza transferred to Indiana, everything changed. He took the program to never-before-seen heights, including a perfect 16-0 season and a victory over Miami at Hard Rock Stadium in the College Football Playoff title game, just over 20 miles from where he attended high school.
Boozer was a consensus five-star recruit coming out of high school after finishing his career by winning four straight state championships with his brother by his side. Well before the 2025-26 college basketball season, the 2026 NBA Draft was considered a very strong class, in part because Boozer was a part of it. Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 pick in last year’s NBA draft, was also in the same high school recruiting class as Boozer before reclassifying.
When the NBA draft rolls around this summer, Boozer will most likely be one of the first three players selected. He’s in the running to be the No. 1 overall pick alongside Kansas’ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson after posting one of the best single seasons of the modern era.
Above all, the fact that a South Florida high school produced the best player in college football and basketball this season is an incredible accomplishment that may not happen again.
