​Two of ACC’s top freshmen renewed their hometown rivalry in Las Vegas when Caleb Wilson and Cameron Boozer faced off on the NBA stage. The two stood at the center of college basketball’s fiercest showdown last season: Wilson shined for North Carolina until a thumb injury cut his campaign short, while Boozer thrived for Duke. Their paths trace back to AAU ball with Nightrydas Elite, where they teamed up to win the 2024 Peach Jam before ending up on opposite sides of Tobacco Road. In their lone collegiate clash, Wilson poured in 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting with four rebounds, two steals and a block, while Boozer replied with 24 points and 11 boards. North Carolina edged Duke 71-68 on a buzzer-beater, snapping the Blue Devils’ 10-game winning streak.
In June’s NBA Draft, Boozer went third overall to Memphis and Wilson went fourth to Chicago. At the Bulls’ introductory press conference, Wilson embraced a bold boast: “I want to be the greatest of all time. Y’all got one of the GOATs in y’all history, so it’s time for another one.”
Friday night in Las Vegas, the long-awaited pro matchup finally arrived, with Memphis tipping off against Chicago in a 97-96 thriller at the Thomas & Mack Center. Wilson exploded for 35 points on a barrage of long-range reeds, while Boozer posted 23 points. In the picture, Caleb Wilson of the Chicago Bulls guarded by Cameron Boozer of the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Boozer already carried momentum into Summer League hype. He began his pro journey in Salt Lake City, finishing with 15 points, four rebounds and four assists on 7-of-11 shooting in a decisive win over Oklahoma City, punctuated by a two-hand dunk off a give-and-go. He followed with an 18-point outing (6-of-9 from the floor, 4-of-5 from three) against Utah. After two games, Boozer was averaging 16.5 points and 5.5 rebounds on 65 percent shooting, a display of efficiency, playmaking, and high basketball IQ that reinforced the pro-ready reputation that helped him land a top-three selection.
Wilson, by contrast, arrived in Las Vegas with a still-fresh sense of ring-rust, confessing jitters after months without live action since his UNC season ended with the thumb injury. Bulls coach Tiago Splitter had already seen enough in practice to gush: “The size and the athletic ability is special. It’s something you don’t see very often.” The matchup carried extra significance given the schedule-makers’ decision to place Wilson’s first pro game opposite Boozer, who has become a benchmark for this draft class alongside No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa and No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson, both delivering strong Summer League showings.
Wilson drew first blood by opening the game with a clean early knockdown, signaling that, even amid the jitters, his confidence remained intact and his shooting stroke looked ready for the big stage. The national-sized spotlight on this pairing—two former AAU teammates now plying their trade in the NBA—added another layer of intrigue to a Summer League contest that carried the weight of much more than a typical exhibition.