Chaparral High School’s 6-foot-8, 225-pound tough, hard-nosed senior post Joe Boyd had an up-and-down high school career for himself and also a senior season, but it has all turned out just fine for the talented post prospect.
After a rigorous recruiting experience for himself and those close to him, Boyd has now made his final college decision for himself and will land at a college program in the Big West Conference. Recently, Boyd chose to sign another national letter of intent for himself with Cal-State Fullerton and new head coach Dedrique Taylor and his men's basketball staff. Taylor recently was hired as the program's new head coach, after spending 7 seasons as the Associate Head Coach for Arizona State University.
Previously, it was thought that Boyd would be headed to Drake University this fall to begin his college career, but he fell back into the recruiting hunt after receiving an official release from the program. Boyd’s release from the Drake program came after former head coach Mark Phelps was released from his duties as the school’s head coach. After the school hired new head coach Ray Giacoletti, the new Drake staff attempted to keep Boyd as a player, but Boyd decided to re-open his college recruitment in an attempt to find another program for himself.
After re-opening his college recruitment, Boyd chose to decide on Cal State Fullerton, after also receiving scholarship offers from San Jose State and Montana.
Boyd previously gave an early verbal commitment to New Mexico State during the summer of 2011, before re-opening his college recruitment just months later. Boyd began to pick up recruiting steam after missing much of his junior season of high school due to injury. Boyd saw his recruitment pick up last summer, after a strong performance at last summer’s Reebok Breakout Camp in Philadelphia, PA. He then saw it tail off after a sub-par performance for himself during the remainder of the summer – after the event.
After a strong beginning to his high school career, Boyd turned in a very sub-par senior season for himself that was plagued with injuries. While helping lead his Chaparral team to a 22-8 overall record on the season, Boyd averaged modest numbers for himself – 10.5 points and 8.8 rebounds.
Congratulations to Joe and his family, as well as his personal trainer, BJ Letcher, on this tremendous accomplishment for himself and good luck to him in the future.
Arizona Hoop Review Scouting Report: Boyd is one of the state’s most skilled and talented post prospects. A skilled, face-up four man prospect, Boyd is a nice talent that still needs to embrace the four position, but has the ability to play on the low block or face the basket out to three-point distance. Boyd has really improved his jump shot over the years, and is capable of scoring the basketball off the dribble while facing his defender from the wing. Continued development in his perimeter shooting stroke will allow him to reach his maximum potential as a player. A strong and active rebounder when he focuses in on it, but needs to continue to work in this area. Has excellent low post footwork and a very good overall feel for the game. A good passer out of the post and is capable of handling the basketball in the half-court set. Runs the floor very well and is a very good finisher around the basket – his best attribute. Has good work ethic and loves to improve as a player, something that will fair well for him at the collegiate level – but he needs to remain focused to reach his full potential. A solid all-around prospect that should continue to improve over time. A very solid prospect with a college-ready body.