Somewhere in a Miami home, there is a version of the Boozer family story that is told solely through box scores and draft boards, with Cameron going third overall to the Memphis Grizzlies, Cayden playing point guard at Duke, and Carlos already framed with his two NBA All-Star appearances. However, the tale that truly ties everything together begins before all of that, with a boy born in 2006 who nearly died but grew to be six feet three inches tall on a University of Fort Lauderdale baseball diamond. According to college baseball recruiting records, Carmani is a right-handed pitcher who stands 6 feet 3 inches and weighs 210 pounds. By all measures, that is a sturdy frame; it is tall, lean, and has a projectable build, according to scouts.
According to a Perfect Game assessment from his high school years, he had a tall, lean frame that is expected to gain strength as the body ages. He also recorded an 8.07-second sixty-yard dash, a clean, consistent delivery on the mound, and a fastball that demonstrated ride through the zone. There’s a sense that he may have come to terms with the fact that he isn’t as well-known as his younger brothers. He has good reason to, perhaps more than anyone else in the family.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Carmani Austin Boozer |
| Date of Birth | May 31, 2006 |
| Birthplace | United States |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (190 cm) |
| Weight | 210 lbs (95 kg) |
| Position | Pitcher / First Baseman / Third Baseman |
| Sport | Baseball |
| College | University of Fort Lauderdale |
| High School | Monsignor Edward Pace High School, Miami, FL |
| Father | Carlos Boozer (former NBA All-Star) |
| Mother | CeCe Blackwell Boozer |
| Brothers | Cameron Boozer (Memphis Grizzlies, NBA), Cayden Boozer (Duke Blue Devils) |
| Medical History | Diagnosed with sickle cell anemia at birth; cured via stem cell transplant (2008) |
| Throws / Bats | Right / Right |
Shortly after his birth, on May 31, 2006, Carmani was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia, a disorder that results in aberrant sickle-shaped red blood cells that limit blood flow and decrease oxygen transport. In hindsight, the diagnosis was practically inevitable because both of his parents, Carlos and CeCe, carried the sickle cell trait, but that doesn’t make it any easier to accept. They were informed by doctors that there was no known treatment. When CeCe started looking into other options, one thing caught her attention: a sibling had the best chance of being a genetic match for a bone marrow transplant. What came next was one of the most unusual choices any professional sports family has ever had to make.
CeCe and Carlos decided to use in vitro fertilization. Ten of the 34 eggs that the doctors collected were fertilized, sickle cell-free embryos, and two of them were found to be genetically compatible with Carmani. After both embryos were implanted, Cameron and Cayden Boozer were born on July 18, 2007, not only as family members but also as their older brother’s medical lifeline. When you first see it, it’s the kind of detail that stops you in the middle of a sentence. Carmani spent 40 days in the hospital following the arrival of the twins, underwent two rounds of chemotherapy in preparation for the transplant, and was finally declared cured of sickle cell anemia in May 2008. He wasn’t two years old yet.
“They were only born because I was sick,” Carmani stated bluntly years later. However, they always make a comeback by saving my life. I want to value them more now that I know they are the reason I am still here. The next time Cameron records another double-double while wearing a Grizzlies uniform, it’s important to keep in mind the bond between these three brothers that has nothing to do with basketball statistics or draft positions.
Following his recuperation, Carmani developed a passion for baseball and played as a first baseman, pitcher, and third baseman at Miami’s Monsignor Edward Pace High School. The family is open about the fact that all three boys tried everything growing up, but baseball seemed to fit him in a way that made the decision feel natural rather than deliberate. It’s unclear whether he ever seriously considered following his father and brothers into basketball.
Afterwards, he continued to play at the collegiate level at the University of Fort Lauderdale. It’s a smaller stage than Cameron’s sold-out Cameron Indoor audiences at Duke, but when the alternative is to live in someone else’s shadow all the time, there’s something almost quietly dignified about forging your own path.
The question of Carmani Boozer’s height, which prompts most people to look up his name, has an easy answer: he is 6’3″, right-handed, has a pitcher’s frame, and has a background that would make an interesting documentary regardless of what he does on the diamond. Cameron has admitted that he felt like he had a choice in which sport to pursue after witnessing his older brother play baseball. That’s not insignificant coming from someone who was named national player of the year as a freshman and recently selected third overall in the NBA draft.
Watching the Boozer family story play out in sports media coverage makes it difficult to ignore the fact that Carmani is frequently the side story rather than the main attraction. Nothing compares to what Cameron accomplished this season, including his height, stats, and profile at a small Florida college. However, part of the reason the entire family dynasty, if you will, exists is because Carmani came first. To save him, the twins were created. He was the first to leave a legacy. And standing six feet three inches tall on a Fort Lauderdale baseball field, still competing and creating something of his own, he appears to be someone who has never needed the limelight to understand his true value.
i) https://play.ps-baseball.com/player-profile/2d0b075c-d6bf-4ca0-8b47-5d375184bae7
ii) https://www.fieldlevel.com/app/profile/carmani.boozer/baseball
iii) https://people.com/all-about-carlos-boozer-kids-12004882
iv) https://uftlathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/carmani-boozer/909