After a strong sophomore season for himself in helping lead his Mesa Junior College program to this year's ACCAC Conference Championship and a First-Team All-Conference selection, 6-foot-6, 235-pound sophomore forward Camyn Boone has made his college decision.
Boone surprised many that know him or are close to him when he gave a verbal commitment to Missouri State University this weekend, a member of the Missouri Valley Conference - a conference well publicized for their strong basketball tradition. Missouri State head coach Paul Lusk and his staff received a commitment from Boone this weekend after Boone took an official recruiting visit to the program - his first and only official recruiting visit.
Boone is coming off a very strong sophomore season for himself in helping lead Mesa JC to the Conference title. Boone ranked among the conference leaders in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage this season - averaging 16.5 points and 8.8 rebounds, while shooting 62.4% from the field.
Boone decided to transfer to Mesa Junior College last spring, after transferring from Grand Canyon University. Boone spent his freshman season at Grand Canyon, but decided to transfer schools when former head coach Russ Pennell was let go and Dan Majerle was brought in to take over the program.
Boone was an excellent junior college prospect this season – a very strong low post player with excellent athleticism and a good overall motor. His physical strength, size and explosiveness around the basket put him into a nice recruiting situation, as he became one of the ACCAC conference’s elite prospects.
In limited playing time as a freshman for the Lopes, Boone averaged 1.9 points and 1.7 rebounds per/game. Boone also considered Cochise Junior College and Central Arizona JC before deciding to sign with Mesa JC.
As a senior prospect for Mesa Mountain View High School, Boone led the Toros to a 27-3 record on the season and also the 2011 5A Division-I state championship. Almost in surprising fashion, Mountain View cake-walked through the 5A D-I state playoffs, taking care of every opponent almost flawlessly – including two big blowout performances over Buena HS and Brophy Prep in this year’s 5A D-I state semi-finals and championship game.
Congratulations to Camyn and his wonderful mother Shirene on this amazing accomplishment for their family.
Arizona Hoop Review Scouting Report: Boone is a wide-body with very broad shoulders and good physical toughness. He has an excellent, college-ready body and possesses very good athleticism. Make no mistake about it, Boone is and will be a power forward regardless of the growth and development process, but he should continue to progress nicely as a player. Boone’s physical strength and toughness are his best assets as a player – allowing him to overpower opposing defenders on the low block for inside baskets and offensive put-backs. Boone has very good low-post footwork already, and has a nice variety of low post moves and jump hooks around the basket area – making him tough to defend for smaller low post defenders. He needs work on his perimeter skills and touch from the perimeter out to 15-18 feet, but is capable of putting the basketball on the floor from the wing and getting to the basket, where he is a strong finisher. Boone is at his best when rebounding the basketball, especially since he takes up so much space on the floor and utilizes his body very well to gain very good inside position. He is also a very good offensive rebounder. Boone runs the floor well for his size and has very good explosiveness. Just how good he becomes will be up to him, as his overall work ethic, on and off the floor, will contribute to his development as player.
