The Dad Interviews the “Best Unknown Guard in Houston”
The Dad finally got a chance to see Lee Boykin Jr., “The Best Unknown ZGuard in Houston” live and in living color. After watching “the kid’ on what he called an “off night” (only 39 points), the Dad was definitely impressed.
Lee is a senior at Sweetwater Christian School, in Houston, Texas. He leads the basketball team in most offensive and defensive categories, averaging about 30 points per game. He is a good student and wants to study accounting and playcollege basketball. In addition to playing basketball, Lee runs track, plays baseball, soccer, football (a TAPS All-State selection), tennis and golf. Lee wants to join a major accounting firm after he completes a professional basketball career.
College coaches are not exactly breaking down the Boykin door to sign this kid. The doorbell and the phone have been pretty quiet. Sweetwater Christian School is a small Private Tap 2A school. Lee’s graduating class will have less than 30 students marching across the podium. Many parents, having a kid as talented as Lee, would have worked overtime to place their “player” at a very visible basketball school. The Dad applauds the Boykin family for biting the bullet and keeping education and character development on the front burner.
When Lee moved from public school, he had a 3.8 GPA. At Sweetwater, the grade began to plummet. “I was not used to the amount of school work that they gave us at Sweetwater”, said Lee. “It took a while for me to make the adjustment”. Lee has worked hard to push his GPA back over the 3,0 level. And is on pace to finish in the top 25% of his graduating class (2007).
Lee Steps Up Against 4A Galveston O’Connell
Last week, Lee had an opportunity to play a TAPS 4A team, Galveston O’Connell. “The boys were bigger”, said Lee, “But that did not make a difference for me. I just went out and played MY game”. The boys from Sweetwater did not fair well in this game, but Lee was nearly unstoppable, finishing with 48 points. Watch the highlight video for a coast to coast drive that leaves one hapless O’connell defender flat on his face! He also placed a defensive clamp on his man who scored over 30 points in O’Connell’s previous game. On this night, he could not escape single digits. The Dad has secured some of Lee’s highlights from this game, you can view them here:
Click here to view video highlights vs, Galveston O’Connell
The Dad Assesses the Kid
On Thursday night, I watched Lee play a Boy’s Home team from the NASA area. The kid slashed and dashed his way to lots of buckets. He missed a number of open shots, though. These were the same shots that I saw consistently falling in the game tapes that I previewed. “I had an off night”, said Lee. He finished the game with 39 points.
Even on an “off night”, there is a lot to like about Mr.. Boykin. After watching Lee go to work on the court, The Dad noticed that despite being double and triple teamed all night, “the kid” continued to get off good shots as he split defenders and out-quicked them to get space. Crossover dribbles left defenders helpless as they recovered too late to defend shots. This kid is also a great passer who might average 15 assists per game if he had a better supporting cast. I saw quite a few fumbled passes and missed open shots that were setup by Lee.
What is Lee’s best quality? The Dad believes that it is his character. Despite playing many levels above his teammates, he is constantly encouraging them; lifting them up instead of putting them down. It must be frustrating at times to watch your teammates miss open shots and occasionally miss lay-ups. But you would never know it by watching Lee. This is a kid who just walks away from a bad call or a “no call” and calmly goes back to work. Lots of guys with Lee’s talent would have blown-up or quit out of frustration long ago. This kid handles himself well. He does not showboat or show up kids that struggle to defend him. The funny thing is that Lee THINKS that he is a hot-head. I guess I need to take the kid for a ride up I-10 and expose him to some real hot-heads. You can get a glimpse of Lee’s character by listening to my interview with him (below).
What are the kid’s weaknesses? You can also hear him talk about this in the interview. From The Dad’s point of view, Lee has to get stronger. He works out with a weight vest and pumps in the gym. He will have to continue this work with a passion to excel at the next level.
My Video Interview with Lee Boykin Jr.
In The Dad;s interview, Lee talks about:
- How he fells about being “unknown”
- What he is learning on the blacktop “park ball”
- Plans for the off season
- College preferences and who has contacted him
- Being afraid to give up the ball
- His Basketball weaknesses
- The seven “other” sports he has played
- His worst moment on the basketball court
- What a college coach can expect from him as a player
Click here to view The Dad;s interview with Lee Boykin Jr.
Here is more action footage of Lee Boykin Jr.
"The Best Unknown Senior Guard in Houston?"
**Note: You need Real Player to view the videos.
Click here for a free download of RealPlayer
Lee is a senior at Sweetwater Christian School, in Houston, Texas. He leads the basketball team in most offensive and defensive categories, averaging about 30 points per game. He is a good student and wants to study accounting and playcollege basketball. In addition to playing basketball, Lee runs track, plays baseball, soccer, football (a TAPS All-State selection), tennis and golf. Lee wants to join a major accounting firm after he completes a professional basketball career.College coaches are not exactly breaking down the Boykin door to sign this kid. The doorbell and the phone have been pretty quiet. Sweetwater Christian School is a small Private Tap 2A school. Lee’s graduating class will have less than 30 students marching across the podium. Many parents, having a kid as talented as Lee, would have worked overtime to place their “player” at a very visible basketball school. The Dad applauds the Boykin family for biting the bullet and keeping education and character development on the front burner.
When Lee moved from public school, he had a 3.8 GPA. At Sweetwater, the grade began to plummet. “I was not used to the amount of school work that they gave us at Sweetwater”, said Lee. “It took a while for me to make the adjustment”. Lee has worked hard to push his GPA back over the 3,0 level. And is on pace to finish in the top 25% of his graduating class (2007).
Lee Steps Up Against 4A Galveston O’Connell
Last week, Lee had an opportunity to play a TAPS 4A team, Galveston O’Connell. “The boys were bigger”, said Lee, “But that did not make a difference for me. I just went out and played MY game”. The boys from Sweetwater did not fair well in this game, but Lee was nearly unstoppable, finishing with 48 points. Watch the highlight video for a coast to coast drive that leaves one hapless O’connell defender flat on his face! He also placed a defensive clamp on his man who scored over 30 points in O’Connell’s previous game. On this night, he could not escape single digits. The Dad has secured some of Lee’s highlights from this game, you can view them here:
Click here to view video highlights vs, Galveston O’Connell
The Dad Assesses the Kid
On Thursday night, I watched Lee play a Boy’s Home team from the NASA area. The kid slashed and dashed his way to lots of buckets. He missed a number of open shots, though. These were the same shots that I saw consistently falling in the game tapes that I previewed. “I had an off night”, said Lee. He finished the game with 39 points.Even on an “off night”, there is a lot to like about Mr.. Boykin. After watching Lee go to work on the court, The Dad noticed that despite being double and triple teamed all night, “the kid” continued to get off good shots as he split defenders and out-quicked them to get space. Crossover dribbles left defenders helpless as they recovered too late to defend shots. This kid is also a great passer who might average 15 assists per game if he had a better supporting cast. I saw quite a few fumbled passes and missed open shots that were setup by Lee.
What is Lee’s best quality? The Dad believes that it is his character. Despite playing many levels above his teammates, he is constantly encouraging them; lifting them up instead of putting them down. It must be frustrating at times to watch your teammates miss open shots and occasionally miss lay-ups. But you would never know it by watching Lee. This is a kid who just walks away from a bad call or a “no call” and calmly goes back to work. Lots of guys with Lee’s talent would have blown-up or quit out of frustration long ago. This kid handles himself well. He does not showboat or show up kids that struggle to defend him. The funny thing is that Lee THINKS that he is a hot-head. I guess I need to take the kid for a ride up I-10 and expose him to some real hot-heads. You can get a glimpse of Lee’s character by listening to my interview with him (below).
What are the kid’s weaknesses? You can also hear him talk about this in the interview. From The Dad’s point of view, Lee has to get stronger. He works out with a weight vest and pumps in the gym. He will have to continue this work with a passion to excel at the next level.
My Video Interview with Lee Boykin Jr.
In The Dad;s interview, Lee talks about:
- How he fells about being “unknown”
- What he is learning on the blacktop “park ball”
- Plans for the off season
- College preferences and who has contacted him
- Being afraid to give up the ball
- His Basketball weaknesses
- The seven “other” sports he has played
- His worst moment on the basketball court
- What a college coach can expect from him as a player
Click here to view The Dad;s interview with Lee Boykin Jr.
Here is more action footage of Lee Boykin Jr.
"The Best Unknown Senior Guard in Houston?"
**Note: You need Real Player to view the videos.
Click here for a free download of RealPlayer
posted by Larry Shepard @ 5:16 PM
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