Press release from Pitt:
Pitt Officially Adds Grad Transfer Monty Boykins
PITTSBURGH – The Pitt men’s basketball roster overhaul continued Thursday with the addition of graduate transfer Monty Boykins. The 6-5, 195-pound guard graduated from Lafayette in June and will be eligible for the 2017-18 season.
“Monty [Boykins] is an experienced guard with a high basketball IQ and a very good shooting touch from the perimeter,” said head coach Kevin Stallings. “We are excited to add a veteran player who can play multiple positions and make an immediate impact on the court and in the locker room.”
Boykins suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in Lafayette’s opening game last season against Villanova. As a junior, he averaged 10.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game, while shooting 35.8 percent (54-of-151) from three-point range for the Leopards. Boykins scored in double figures 17 times, including a career-high 19 points with six three-point field goals against Sacred Heart.
The West Chester, Ohio, native appeared in 31 contests (seven starts) as a sophomore in helping Lafayette to a 20-13 record and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. He averaged 4.7 points and 1.5 rebounds per game with 25 made three-point field goals.
Boykins played in 21 games as a freshman, averaging 3.3 points and 1.2 rebounds per game.
A four-year high school varsity basketball player under head coach Sean Van Winkle at Lakota West, Boykins earned first team All-Greater Miami Conference and All-Butler County honors twice and was an All-Greater Miami Conference Academic Team member three times. He was averaging 17.2 points and 9.2 rebounds per game six games into his senior season before suffering an ACL injury. Boykins was an honorable mention AP Division I All-Ohio selection as a junior after averaging over 16 points, six rebounds and two assists per game. He also played two years of football as a quarterback and wide receiver.
Boykins joins a Pitt roster featuring seniors Ryan Luther and Jonathan Milligan along with a deep incoming class of JUCO standout Jared Wilson-Frame, Rivals Top 100 point guard Marcus Carr, versatile big man Terrell Brown and talented spring signees Parker Stewart, Shamiel Stevenson, Khameron Davis, Peace Ilegomah and Samson George. The Panthers also added Malik Ellison, a skilled wing who began his college career at St. John’s. Ellison will sit next season due to NCAA transfer rules and will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Boykins’ father, LaMont, is a member of the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame. Following a decorated multi-sport high school career at Quigley Catholic and Kiski Prep, he went on to become one of the most prolific wide receivers in Westminster College history. He was twice named Small College All-American before signing a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1984.
Pitt Officially Adds Grad Transfer Monty Boykins
PITTSBURGH – The Pitt men’s basketball roster overhaul continued Thursday with the addition of graduate transfer Monty Boykins. The 6-5, 195-pound guard graduated from Lafayette in June and will be eligible for the 2017-18 season.
“Monty [Boykins] is an experienced guard with a high basketball IQ and a very good shooting touch from the perimeter,” said head coach Kevin Stallings. “We are excited to add a veteran player who can play multiple positions and make an immediate impact on the court and in the locker room.”
Boykins suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in Lafayette’s opening game last season against Villanova. As a junior, he averaged 10.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game, while shooting 35.8 percent (54-of-151) from three-point range for the Leopards. Boykins scored in double figures 17 times, including a career-high 19 points with six three-point field goals against Sacred Heart.
The West Chester, Ohio, native appeared in 31 contests (seven starts) as a sophomore in helping Lafayette to a 20-13 record and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. He averaged 4.7 points and 1.5 rebounds per game with 25 made three-point field goals.
Boykins played in 21 games as a freshman, averaging 3.3 points and 1.2 rebounds per game.
A four-year high school varsity basketball player under head coach Sean Van Winkle at Lakota West, Boykins earned first team All-Greater Miami Conference and All-Butler County honors twice and was an All-Greater Miami Conference Academic Team member three times. He was averaging 17.2 points and 9.2 rebounds per game six games into his senior season before suffering an ACL injury. Boykins was an honorable mention AP Division I All-Ohio selection as a junior after averaging over 16 points, six rebounds and two assists per game. He also played two years of football as a quarterback and wide receiver.
Boykins joins a Pitt roster featuring seniors Ryan Luther and Jonathan Milligan along with a deep incoming class of JUCO standout Jared Wilson-Frame, Rivals Top 100 point guard Marcus Carr, versatile big man Terrell Brown and talented spring signees Parker Stewart, Shamiel Stevenson, Khameron Davis, Peace Ilegomah and Samson George. The Panthers also added Malik Ellison, a skilled wing who began his college career at St. John’s. Ellison will sit next season due to NCAA transfer rules and will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Boykins’ father, LaMont, is a member of the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame. Following a decorated multi-sport high school career at Quigley Catholic and Kiski Prep, he went on to become one of the most prolific wide receivers in Westminster College history. He was twice named Small College All-American before signing a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1984.
