Recruiting Report: Andre Boykin (2017)

October 8, 2015

After playing with North Point last season as a sophomore, and with St. Mary’s Ryken the season before, 2017 wing Andre Boykin will play for his third team in three seasons this year after making the transfer to King’s Christian Academy.

The 6-foot-5 wing sites better academics and better opportunity as the reason for the third change in as many seasons.

“My 10th grade year at North Point went well but my family thought I could do better, so they thought it would be good to make the change to King’s Christian,” said Boykin. “Ever since I got here as far as the academics it’s been great, the classes are about 12 students so I have a better educational environment. And as far as the gym, I’m in there everyday, and I think it’s just a better process for me and I’m expecting to have a big junior season.”

Though the talented wing has yet to receive any offers, he expects his recruitment to take-off this season, and says though his interest from West Virginia and DePaul has reduced, there is a new Virginia Division I that has shown some interest.

“My recruitment is still about the same right now. Norfolk State has been in contact with my coach and they just can't wait to see me play, they’re showing interest in me. And that’s about it right now, but after this school year I’m expecting my recruitment to pick up way more,” said Boykin, who excelled while playing with Team Takeover this offseason.

“For Team Takeover my role was to play any position and just do whatever I was asked. I was able to do a lot of things, but the main thing for me was to be able to see the floor, make the right play, and get my team up, get them going and be a leader.”

As he prepares to play with yet another set of new guys, Boykin says his role will be to jump right in and be a vocal leader for the Eagles.

“I expect a lot of fun, I have a starting role for the most part,” said Boykin. “And basically I've talked to my coach a couple times and all he wants me to do is be a leader, and be vocal and work on every aspect of my game so when a college coach comes in they can see that I can do everything on the court and be effective at it.”

April 29, 2015

North Point sophomore Andre Boykin is a self-described bully on the court and even has his own term for his brand of basketball — “bully ball.”

“I think I’m best at getting to the basket, this offseason I plan working on my mid-range jumper and improving that, and I’m quick, I can get past my defender and basically I play bully-ball,” said the 6-foot-5 wing.

“And when I say that, I mean if I have a 6-foot-7 guy defending me I’m going to use my quickness to get around him easily, but say I have a 6-foot-2 guard on me I’m going to take him down into the post.”

So far bully-ball seems to be working for the versatile sophomore, and he’s seen some interest come in from area Division I programs.

“No offers right now, but I have some interest from West Virginia, and I visited there as a freshman at a summer camp, and I did real well,” said Boykin. “And I also have interest from DePaul and St. Peter’s University.”

He’s playing his offseason ball with Team Takeover 16U Orange, he says he did not tryout for Team Takeover’s first team because he joined the program late.

The talented prospect, PHM’s 27th-ranked 2017, has been playing small forward for  the majority of his playing days, but says now he’s is making the transition to shooting guard — and will spend his offseason honing those guard skills.

“I just want to get better, simple at that,” said Boykin. “At practice we work on making me a better point guard, a better passer, and being a better leader and more vocal on the court.”