Is This Kenny Boynton's Breakout Season?
We've written about this plenty before. In fact, probably once at the start of each season. Is this finally Florida guard Kenny Boynton's breakout season? Despite a great junior year, averaging career-highs in scoring (15.9 points) and shooting percentages (.440 field-goal, .407 3-point), Boynton was overshadowed by Florida's "other" guard, Bradley Beal, a top-five pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. But without Beal and graduated-Erving Walker, the offense is all Boynton's to run. And scouts are watching closely.
Splitting time on- and off-the-ball, Boynton led a balanced Florida offensive attack with five players averaging double-figures by way of a highly efficient perimeter attack; he launched 270 3-point attempts (!), seventh most in the country, but like we already stated, made almost 41 percent of these attempts. Boynton scored 1.2 points per possession on spot-up jumpers, amongst the highest rates in the country, but also ranking near the top in pick-and-roll and isolation opportunities. His accuracy opened up the floor for guards like Beal and Walker, but also big men Patric Young and Erik Murphy, both of whom will return for another year of Gator basketball.
The biggest area of improvement scouts are keying in on, is Boynton's ability to play more point guard and lead the Gator's high-powered offense. With Walker and Beal moving on, head coach Billy Donovan will only have Boynton and freshman Braxton Ogbueze, to rely on. Boynton's 2.7 assists per game and 17.3 assist rate were nothing special, but his assist-to-turnover ratio (1.9) and usage rate, shows that the basic skills are there for Boynton to breakout, both as a point guard and shooting guard this season and really steal the national headlines for the Gators.
By NBA-DRAFT.com Staff Writer - 9 - 25 - 12
