June 28, 2026, 11:55 a.m. MT
BYU basketball star Richie Saunders is joining a Memphis Grizzlies roster with a lot of new pieces. The biggest one is No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer. USA TODAY Sports gathered comments from Boozer before he was picked third in the NBA draft:
“‘For me not being in that (No. 1 pick) conversation, I don’t really understand it,’ said Boozer, who is projected to be selected No. 3 overall (and ultimately was) by the Memphis Grizzlies in USA TODAY Sports’ latest mock draft. ‘I think many years down the line, people are going to look back and say that I should have been.’
“When asked if he should be the first player off the board, Boozer confidently said, ‘Of course, I feel that way.’
“Boozer said the order in which NBA commissioner Adam Silver calls his name on Tuesday evening won’t determine how successful he is in the league. And he’s aiming high his rookie season, revealing some of the goals he’s set for himself: ‘I want to win rookie of the year, want to average 10 rebounds a game, shoot 40%.’
“‘Where you get drafted today, it doesn’t determine where you’re going to be in 10 years,’ Boozer added during an appearance on ESPN’s “NBA Draft Red Carpet” show. ‘For me, I just want to go to the right place for me where I can maximize that potential for me in 10 years down the line.’
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“The 6-foot-9, 250-pound forward averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.4 steals in 38 games (all starts) at Duke this past season, while shooting 55.6% from the field. He was named The Associated Press men’s national player of the year, becoming the fifth freshman to win the award, joining Cooper Flagg (2025), Zion Williamson (2019), Anthony Davis (2012) and Kevin Durant (2007).
“‘I think my versatility is very underrated. A lot of people will talk about me and I think they don’t really understand the game, but I mean that’s OK,’ Boozer said. ‘I just think there’s so much to my game that people don’t really see. I think I can handle the ball. I think I shoot really well. I think my processing level is elite and then that’s going to really show up the next level for me.”
Cameron Boozer having a chip on his shoulder could have a very positive domino effect on Richie Saunders in Memphis. The better Boozer is, the more Saunders should benefit. He stands to get a lot of open looks with opponents devoting their defensive attention to Boozer.
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