Carlos Austin Boozer Jr. was born November 20, 1981, at a U.S. military base in Aschaffenburg, West Germany. His father, Carlos Sr., was an Army sergeant. His mother Renee raised five children while both parents worked two jobs. The family settled in Washington, D.C., after Carlos Sr.’s Army service ended.
What happened next changed everything. Six-year-old Carlos was playing neighborhood basketball with his friend Chris. Chris made a basket and knocked another player down. An older kid — a gang member — pulled a gun from his backpack and shot Chris. Then rode away on his bicycle. Chris died in Carlos Boozer’s arms.
Carlos Sr. and Renee loaded the car and drove 2,800 miles to Bellingham, Washington. A ferry carried them to Juneau, Alaska. They were looking for the safest place in America.
Juneau was another planet. Population 30,000. Rainforest. Eagles. Glaciers. No roads in or out. ‘I was very different. My swag was different. I’m coming into school in that old ’85 Dodge van, bumping Tupac and Biggie, and nobody had ever heard of those rappers. They embraced me.’ The family lived in an apartment in Douglas, seven people, lower-middle class. No basketball hoop. So Carlos Sr. drove his son thirty minutes to Auke Bay Elementary, where there was a covered outdoor court. Even in snow: homework, wait for Dad, drive to Auke Bay, go at it for two hours, come home for dinner. Every single day for four years.
At Juneau-Douglas High: 95–12 record. Back-to-back state titles (1997, 1998). Three-time Alaska POY. Two-time Parade All-American. Senior: 28 PPG/14 RPG. Gatorade National POY. McDonald’s All-American (22 pts/11 reb). ‘Think about a kid at 12 years old, in Juneau, Alaska, telling his parents, “I want to go to the NBA.”’ His parents let him dream. Coach K came to Juneau. Boozer chose Duke.