Kenny Boynton talks to GatorZone about his decision to return for senior season
Friday, April 6, 2012 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- After beating them up in the basketball complex weight room, Florida strength and conditioning coordinator Preston Greene escorted a pair of Gator guards, Kenny Boynton and Scottie Wilbekin, out the gymnasium's back door early Friday morning for what is known the “strong man” workout.
That would be flipping 400-pound tires.
Both players had a look of dread on their faces.
“Kenny Boynton's gonna lead the SEC in taking charges his senior year!” Greene shouted as they headed out.
It's a senior year Boynton, the No. 7 scorer in Gators basketball history, officially began preparing for a day earlier when he announced via Twitter that he would return to the team for his final season, rather than putting his name into the NBA Draft pool.
Boynton, the 6-foot-2, 190-pounder from Pompano Beach, led UF in scoring at 15.9 points per game, while shooting nearly 41 percent from 3-point range on a team-high 270 attempts from the arc.
He'll go into his senior season with 1,589 career points. That's 502 shy of breaking the all-time UF scoring record of 2,090 points held by forward Ronnie Williams (1981-84). Boynton is also just 26 made 3-pointers from eclipsing the school mark of 288 held by Lee Humphrey (2004-07).
After his back-breaking workout, Boynton talked with me about the decision to come back (he's on pace to graduate with a degree in sociology next spring), the records he has a chance to break, the similar decision that awaits teammate Bradley Beal and the opportunity for the Gators in 2012-13.
CH: Was it a tough call?
KB: “Yes it was hard, honestly. I met with Coach Donovan, along with my mom and everyone, and we just decided there were more benefits -- finishing school, improving my game -- to me coming back than to leaving.”
CH: Obviously, getting a degree is important, but what were the basketball benefits to returning?
KB: “Coming back and playing more of the point guard position, I think I could help myself overall. And as far as the team, with me back, we only lose Erving [Walker]. I know, right now, Brad is undecided. But say Brad comes back. Man, we'd have another shot at it. This season didn't end so great for us, but I just think with those factors it gave me good enough reasons to come back.”
CH: How cool was it to see Florida fans getting all excited in the Twitter sphere about your decision?
KB: “It was. Sometimes you forget that all those Gator fans are behind you. That was definitely nice to see how much they appreciate you.”
CH: Did the fact you got so close for a second straight year play into it? And is how everything ended against Louisville still eating away at you? Especially with Kentucky winning it all, knowing how closely you played them that last time.
KB: “Oh man, I've tried not to think about it anymore. And, you know, I said the same thing about last year, with the way that one ended. I don't know how we lost the game. We had the game, we just blew it. But if we're in the same position next year, we'll know; we'll know it happened two years in a row [and] we'll know how to deal with it. It won't happen three years in a row. We won't let it.”
CH: How did the chance to break some high-profile school records and hit some individual goals factor into the decision?
KB: “Honestly, that didn't really factor in me coming back. Those things come in the course of playing. If you come back and think about that stuff, it's just another thing on your mind, a distraction that can lower your game. I think I have to just come back, go out there and play and let things like that happen if they're meant to happen.”
CH: What about Brad? How is he dealing with his situation?
KB: “Seriously, I haven't even said anything to Brad about that. I don't think it's my place to comment about that. Brad's in a really good spot, either way. I just hope he makes the best decision for him, the one that makes him happy. Whatever that may be.”
CH: Are you glad this is behind you?
KB: “Definitely. I've had time to think about it every day -- and I've thought a lot about it every day. Now that's it over and done with, I'm glad I'm going to be here next year. Really glad.”
