Athletic ability is one of many things that can be passed down from generation to generation. For a select group of players set to take the floor during the 2025-26 college basketball season, the concept could not be more true.
From coast to coast, there are college players whose dads made names for themselves as All-Stars in the NBA. As the next generation of players work to carve their own lane, their names, games and physical features often remind fans of those who came before them.
Learn more about some of the more notable sons of NBA stars in college basketball, from the Boozer twins at Duke to Bryce James at Arizona.
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Cameron and Cayden Boozer, Duke (Carlos Boozer)
- Father’s career stats: 16.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists over 861 games
- Father’s accolades: 2x All-Star, 2008 All-NBA 3rd Team, 2003 All-Rookie 2nd Team
- Sons’ bio info:
- Cameron: July 17, 2007, 6-foot-9, 250 pounds
- Cayden: July 17, 2007, 6-foot-4, 205 pounds
- Sons’ prospect rating:
- Cameron: Five-star prospect, No. 3 player in high school class of 2025
- Cayden: Four-star prospect, No. 23 player in high school class of 2025
Cayden and Cameron Boozer are following in the footsteps of their dad, Carlos, as they begin their college careers at Duke. The fraternal twins are a few inches apart in height and play different positions, but both will be among the best freshmen in the ACC this season.
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Kiyan Anthony, Syracuse (Carmelo Anthony)
- Father’s career stats: 22.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists over 1,260 games
- Father’s accolades: 10x All-Star, 6x All-NBA, 2004 All-Rookie Team, NBA 75th Anniversary Team
- Son’s bio info: March 7 2007, 6-foot-5, 185 pounds
- Son’s prospect rating: Four-star prospect, No. 32 player in high school class of 2025
22 years after Carmelo led the Orange to a national title, Kiyan will suit up for Syracuse. He’s got a lifelong link to the program and will look to help it reach the heights that it did when his dad was on campus.
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Bryce James, Arizona (LeBron James)
- Father’s career stats: 27.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists through 1,562 games
- Father’s accolades: 21x All-Star, 21x All-NBA, 6x All-Defense, 4x MVP, 4x champion, 4x Finals MVP, NBA 75th Anniversary Team
- Son’s bio info: June 14, 2007, 6-foot-5, 195 pounds
- Son’s prospect rating: Three-star prospect, No. 324 player in high school class of 2025
In the rare case of an active NBA player having a son playing high-level basketball, LeBron’s youngest son will begin his collegiate journey in 2025. Bryce’s first college season comes during his dad’s 23rd in the NBA, a feat in itself.
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Andrej Stojakovic, Illinois (Peja Stojakovic)
- Father’s career stats: 17.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists over 804 games
- Father’s accolades: 3x All-NBA, 2004 All-NBA 2nd Team, 2011 NBA Champion
- Son’s bio info: Aug. 17, 2004, 6-foot-7, 215 pounds
- Son’s prospect rating: Four-star prospect, No. 19 player in high school class of 2023
The son of the sharpshooting Peja, Andrej, has stood out at all stops. He began at Stanford and moved on to California as a sophomore before a pivot to to take his game to the next level at Illinois in 2025.
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Ashton Hardaway, Memphis (Penny Hardaway)
- Father’s career stats: 15.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists over 704 games
- Father’s accolades: 4x All-Star, 3x All-NBA, 1994 All-Rookie 1st Team
- Son’s bio info: July 21, 2004, 6-foot-8, 225 pounds
- Son’s prospect rating: Three-star prospect, No. 110 player in high school class of 2023
Ashton Hardaway is back in Memphis, where he began his career before transferring to Saint Mary’s. Not only is he following in his dad’s footsteps, he’ll be playing under his tutelage as Penny has been the Tigers head coach since 2018.
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Jake Wilkins, Georgia (Dominique Wilkins)
- Father’s career stats: 24.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists over 1,074 games
- Father’s accolades: 9x All-Star, 7x All-NBA, 1983 All-Rookie 1st Team, NBA 75th Anniversary Team
- Son’s bio info: Aug. 30, 2006, 6-foot-9, 185 pounds
- Son’s prospect rating: Four-star prospect, No. 68 player in high school class of 2025
They call him “Baby Highlight”, and he’s taking after his dad, the “Human Highlight Reel” in more ways than one. The son of Dominique, Jake Wilkins will be featured in Athens, Ga., where his dad was an All-American over 40 years prior.
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Alijah Arenas, USC (Gilbert Arenas)
- Father’s career stats: 20.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists over 552 games
- Father’s accolades: 3x All-Star, 3x All-NBA, 2003 Most Improved Player
- Son’s bio info: March 16, 2007, 6-foot-6, 195 pounds
- Son’s prospect rating: Five-star prospect, No. 10 player in high school class of 2025
A torn meniscus may keep him sidelined for most or all of the 2025-26 season, but Alijah Arenas is the real deal. It’s evident that he’s gotten some elements of his game from his dad, Gilbert, but it’s important to note that Alijah’s mom played at the Division I level, too.
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Jermaine O’Neal Jr., SMU (Jermaine O’Neal)
- Father’s career stats: 13.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists over 1,011 games
- Father’s accolades: 6x All-Star, 3x All-NBA, 2002 Most Improved Player
- Son’s bio info: June 20, 2006, 6-foot-5, 185 pounds
- Son’s prospect rating: Four-star prospect, No. 115 player in high school class of 2025
Jermaine Sr. didn’t need college as he made the preps-to-pros leap in 1996. Nearly 30 years later, Jermaine Jr. is in Dallas, where he’ll take on ACC competition as a member of the SMU Mustangs squad.
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Shaqir O’Neal, Sacramento State (Shaquille O’Neal)
- Father’s career stats: 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists over 1,207 games
- Father’s accolades: 15x All-Star, 14x All-NBA, 2000 MVP, 4x champion, 3x Finals MVP, NBA 75th Anniversary Team
- Son’s bio info: April 19, 2003, 6-foot-8, 200 pounds
- Son’s prospect rating: Three-star prospect, No. 284 player in high school class of 2021
He’s not quite as big as Shaquille, but Shaqir O’Neal wears the family name proudly. He’s finishing his career off with the Sacramento State Hornets, a program for which his dad was recently appointed general manager.
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Gicarri Harris, Purdue (Glenn Robinson)
- Father’s career stats: 20.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists over 688 games
- Father’s accolades: 2x All-Star, 1995 All-Rookie 1st Team, 2005 champion
- Son’s bio info: Aug. 9, 2005, 6-foot-3, 210 pounds
- Son’s prospect rating: Four-star prospect, No. 75 player in high school class of 2024
Robinson is one of the greatest players in Boilermaker history, and Harris is looking to create his own version of that story. He saw respectable playing time as a freshman and will look to grow into a bigger role as his career evolves.
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Jace Howard, Fordham (Juwan Howard)
- Father’s career stats: 13.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists over 1,208 games
- Father’s accolades: 1996 All-Star, 1996 All-NBA 3rd Team, 1995 All-Rookie Team, 2x champion
- Son’s bio info: Sept. 19, 2001, 6-foot-7, 200 pounds
- Son’s prospect rating: Three-star recruit, No. 389 player in high school class of 2020
After graduating from Michigan like his father and former head coach, Juwan, Jace is set to finish things off at Fordham. He’ll play a big role with the Rams, who are going to try to make noise in the Atlantic-10.
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Justin Pippen, California (Scottie Pippen)
- Father’s career stats: 16.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists over 1,178 games
- Father’s accolades: 10x All-Defense, 7x All-Star, 7x All-NBA, 6x champion, NBA 75th Anniversary Team
- Son’s bio info: July 11, 2005, 6-foot-3, 190 pounds
- Son’s prospect rating: Four-star recruit, No. 71 player in high school class of 2024
Justin Pippen spent Year 1 at Michigan before heading back to his home state to suit up for the Golden Bears. Scottie’s story of rapidly growing in college is no secret, and now Justin will look to evolve physically and improve on the floor to potentially become the third member of the family to make the league.
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Stephon Marbury II, California (Stephon Marbury)
- Father’s career stats: 19.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 7.6 assists over 846 games
- Father’s accolades: 2x All-Star, 2x All-NBA, 1997 All-Rookie 1st Team
- Son’s bio info: Jan. 22, 2005, 6-foot-1, 170 pounds
- Son’s prospect rating: Unranked
You don’t have to look long to recognize that Stephon II is Stephon’s son. He didn’t arrive in Berkeley, Calif., with much acclaim, but Stephon II will look to grow into a role as the Golden Bears get acclimated to the ACC.
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