A player that has really risen his game and stepped up for his team has been 2023 Trey Boyd at NC GBB this year, showing his ability to knock down shots and help his team in a big way. But he would describe his game as much more than just a shooter. Phenom Hoops spoke to him about the latest, how his season has gone, what he has learned under Coach Cole, more about his game, and how schools are taking notice of what he can provide. Check out what he had to say in our latest interview.
Phenom: How has everything has been going at NC GBB this year for you' What has it been like playing with your teammates and on the big stage so far'
Boyd: I love it. It was slow for me when I first got here because their season had already started and I didn’t really have a role yet and nobody really knew what I could do yet either. I was really looking forward to being at Panther Creek this year and learning from Coach Rob but transferring to NC GBB has been good for me. I’ve been getting the chance to play with and against other guys who are focused on playing basketball after high school and it’s pushed me to train even harder and work on things I may have been able to get away with before. I’ve really had to work on being disciplined on defense and not reaching and I’ve been doing a lot better at that. I love my teammates! We have a lot of fun together and we get along well.
Phenom: What has it been like to learn from Coach Cole and the staff there' How has it helped you'
Boyd: Coach Pat has been great. When I first got here, he helped me show me some things to speed my shot up and move it over more on the right side of my body because I used to bring it all the way around from the left and shoot it at an angle. I still hit and was always accurate but my release was a little slower. That is the main thing and he really was on me about playing better defensively and not reaching and cheating on defense. Just stuff I could get away with at lower levels. He told me when I first got here that if I couldn’t defend, then I wasn’t going to play much here and not much in college either. It didn’t matter how good my shot was. So, I’m more serious about defending now. Even when I watch film, I focus on that a lot because I want to keep getting better. Coach Pat says he knows I’m going to keep developing on offense and he wants me to keep focusing more on defense too.
Phenom: How would you best describe your overall game, not just shoot but more overall'
Boyd: I’m a bucket for sure. I’m really a prolific scorer. I can score on anybody at any time. A lot of what I’ve been working on is adjusting to scoring within an offensive system. Coach Rob has worked with me a lot on that at Panther Creek over the summer and when I got here in November, it was just about figuring out how to do so within the offense that they already had. I started out only sitting in the corners and getting those threes when they would kick them out. We got a loaded team and it took me about a month to get a feel, especially playing limited minutes. But I figured it out and I’m really looking to finish the season strong and go into travel ball season strong.
Phenom: How has recruitment been going for you overall' What’s been the latest for you'
Boyd: It is going well. I never played travel basketball. My dad always told me that I didn’t need to focus on exposure, I needed to focus on getting better so when the time came to get exposure, I would have something to show. I was set to play in 2020 for the first time then COVID hit before I could play. Then I didn’t play any games for 15 months. I just stayed in the gym every day. Then, last July, I got the chance to play up with All Carolina 17u for a few tournaments. That helped me a lot with getting my basketball legs back. Coaches didn’t ever get a chance to see me until last summer. I’ve had unofficial visits to Rice, Murray State, and Georgia Tech, and I’ve attended a UNCG and Georgetown game. I talk to a lot more coaches since the Brewster Academy game and they all are saying the same thing that they like my game and they can’t wait to see me in April and July. I’m just staying in the gym and the weight room and trying to get better every day.
Phenom: Who would you say has been showing strong interest your way'
Boyd: Rice the most. The head coach said he really likes me and they have the Green Light U, that is their offense. I just started talking with Georgia Tech and I got the chance to sit in on one of their practices at my visit and I like their offense as well. He said he would come out and see me in April and in July. Oh, and Howard and UNCW. I forgot they reached out also but not as consistent.
Phenom: How were your visits to Rice, Murray State, and Georgia Tech most recently'
Boyd: Great. I didn’t know a lot about Rice except Trey Murphy when there but I learned a lot about them and their basketball program. Coach Green showed me around the whole campus and I got to talk to Coach Pera and we talked about my game and how he really liked my shot. He talked about coaching James Harden and how they are still good friends. Coach Brown at Murray State was cool. He played there and in the NBA and his Murray State jersey is retired. That was cool. He really knows the game and talking with him is great. Coach Swartz at Georgia Tech was great too. He played at Wisconsin and has been working for Coach Pastner for several years. He and Coach Pastner were good talking to. All the schools were good schools with good programs and I had a great time at each of them.
Phenom: Any other visits planned'
Boyd: Yes, we have a few but the dates aren’t finalized yet. We were supposed to go to Auburn in January but had to postpone. I’m really trying to focus on finishing the season strong and going into travel season strong.