Fernando Mendoza, the Indiana quarterback who won the Heisman Trophy, and Cameron Boozer, Duke's star power forward, have a surprising connection - they both attended the same Miami-based high school, Marist, when Boozer was a freshman and Mendoza was a senior. The two future college stars might have interacted academically as well as athletically due to their exceptional academic record and outstanding character.
Mendoza will face off against his alma mater, Indiana, in the national championship game at Hard Rock Stadium, just 20 minutes away from Marist High School. A watch party is being held at the school's football stadium, where students and alumni can gather and watch the game on the scoreboard.
For Mendoza, attending a watch party at his former high school is a "very full-circle moment" that holds significant value. He will start preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft after the championship game concludes.
Mendoza and Boozer share similar traits - they are driven, studious, and hardworking. They both put in extra effort to improve their craft, with Mendoza watching film relentlessly under Coach Dave Dunn's guidance and Boozer waking up at 5:30 a.m. every day to get extra shots up before school.
Boozer is having an impressive freshman season, leading Duke to a 17-1 record while averaging 23.2 points, 9.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. He is the front-runner for the John R. Wooden Award, with DraftKings giving him the best odds of winning at -225.
The connection between Mendoza and Boozer adds a unique layer to their college basketball and football careers, as they both attended the same high school that produced other notable alumni such as Alex Rodriguez, Brian Griese, and Jase Richardson.
Mendoza will face off against his alma mater, Indiana, in the national championship game at Hard Rock Stadium, just 20 minutes away from Marist High School. A watch party is being held at the school's football stadium, where students and alumni can gather and watch the game on the scoreboard.
For Mendoza, attending a watch party at his former high school is a "very full-circle moment" that holds significant value. He will start preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft after the championship game concludes.
Mendoza and Boozer share similar traits - they are driven, studious, and hardworking. They both put in extra effort to improve their craft, with Mendoza watching film relentlessly under Coach Dave Dunn's guidance and Boozer waking up at 5:30 a.m. every day to get extra shots up before school.
Boozer is having an impressive freshman season, leading Duke to a 17-1 record while averaging 23.2 points, 9.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. He is the front-runner for the John R. Wooden Award, with DraftKings giving him the best odds of winning at -225.
The connection between Mendoza and Boozer adds a unique layer to their college basketball and football careers, as they both attended the same high school that produced other notable alumni such as Alex Rodriguez, Brian Griese, and Jase Richardson.
this is so cool! Can you imagine growing up with someone who's gonna be a star athlete, especially in your own high school? 
I'm sure it was super inspiring for Mendoza to see Boozer crush it on the court as a freshman and now they're both killing it in their respective sports 
. A watch party at Marist High is such a great idea, gotta be surreal watching his alma mater play against him 
It's like they're proving that even though they went on to compete in different sports, the foundation of Marist High School helped shape them into the winners they are today 
. And can you believe Boozer is having an insane freshman season? 
they're already 22, when do they know what they wanna do with their lives? and Marist High School, huh? sounds like a total prep school nightmare 
Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman winner, is all about hard work and dedication, watching film every day to improve his game. Meanwhile, Cameron Boozer is wakin' up at 5:30 a.m. daily to get in those extra shots - that's some serious commitment! 
Like, it's not every day you meet someone who goes to the same school as another famous athlete. 
I'm also curious about how their academic careers prepared them for such a big stage in sports. Did Boozer's intense morning workouts really pay off? 
And what can we expect from Mendoza now that he's winning the Heisman Trophy? Is this going to set him up well for the 2026 NFL Draft? 
, but he seems up for the challenge. Boozer's freshman season at Duke has been insane 
. it's dope to see these two friends & classmates making waves in their respective sports 
Just imagine Cameron Boozer going off on the scoreboard while Mendoza is out there crushing it on the field... that's what I call a full-circle moment 
). The fact that Boozer wakes up at 5:30 am every day for extra shots is wild... I think I'd need a few more hours of sleep after one of those morning sprints 
Anyway, it's gonna be fun to see Mendoza and Boozer show off their skills. Whoever wins, we'll all come out on top! 
. Can't wait to see the national championship game! 
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. What does this say about our education system? Are we doing enough to ensure that our young people have the skills and support they need to succeed in whatever field they choose? I'd argue that if we could replicate the academic achievements of Mendoza and Boozer across more students, that would be a huge step forward for our country 
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. Boozer's dad is quoted as saying he's been playing 3-on-3 with his son since age 6 - that kind of dedication and commitment to nurturing talent is exactly what we need more of in our communities 
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! I'm so proud of him for making it to the national championship game after everything he's worked for 
He's killing it on the court this season and I love that he's carrying on that strong work ethic from his high school days 
It's crazy that they both have similar work ethic and dedication, you feel? 
... it's a nice connection, but at the end of the day, they're two different sports, and we should be hyped for both!