By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
SIGNING DAY VIDEO - here
Toledo, Ohio---Tony Boykins (Loy Norrix/Kalamazoo, Mich.), a sophomore guard for the Owens Community College men's basketball team, has signed with Gannon University, an NCAA Division II school in Erie, Penn.
As a sophomore, Boykins nearly helped lead the Express men's basketball program to their second straight national tournament appearance. He averaged 8.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and one assist per game. Additionally, he started all 31 games.
The Express finished 25-6 overall last year and won a share of the program's first Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) championship since 2001-02 with an 11-1 mark. They were a buzzer beating shot away from a second straight trip to nationals.
As a freshman, Boykins averaged 9.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. He was named Honorable Mention All-OCCAC following the season. He helped lead the team to a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Final Four appearance. The team finished 26-10 overall.
In his two years, Boykins led the Express to a 51-16 record, while totaling 606 points, 249 rebounds, 68 assists, 38 steals and 43 blocks.
Prior to his sophomore year, Boykins participated in the Mullens JUCO Showcase in St. Louis, MO.
The 2012 Loy Norrix graduate was a First Team All-Southwest Michigan Athletic Conference (SMAC) selection under head coach Matt Covault in high school.
Notes
Boykins becomes one of 10 men's basketball student-athletes to sign with four-year schools since third-year head coach Dave Clarke took over. They include: Jordan Basinger (Siena Heights University, NAIA), James Kelly (University of Miami, Fla., NCAA Division I), Justin Edmonds (Marshall University, NCAA Division I), Joe Retic II (Liberty University, NCAA Division I), Jay Marquette (Lee University, NCAA Division II), Franklin Lindsey (Indiana Tech University, NAIA), Bikramjit Gill (Ball State University, NCAA Division I), Jerron Jamerson (Goshen College, NAIA) and Markese Allen (Ohio Valley University, NCAA Division II).
Two other sophomores from this year's team, Andy Bachman (North Side/Fort Wayne, Ind.) and DeVondre Peoples (Consortium/Detroit, Mich.) are also expected to sign with four-year schools soon.
The Gannon University Golden Knights compete in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). They finished 20-10 overall last year. Also, they advanced to the PSAC Tournament Final Four, and they made the second round of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional. The program has made 24 postseason appearances in the past 29 years, made the NCAA Division II tournament 22 times and advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight on five occasions.