Penn State adds transfer from UConn, forward De’Janae Boykin
Release from Penn State:
Head coach Coquese Washington has announced the addition of freshman transfer De’Janae Boykin (Springdale, Md.) to the Penn State women’s basketball roster. Transferring from the University of Connecticut, Boykin is a three-time gold medalist in international competition and earned McDonald’s All-American honors following her final prep season.
Boykin is subject to the NCAA Transfer Rules, meaning she must sit out two semesters before being eligible for competition. Boykin will be able to compete following the conclusion of the fall 2016 semester.
“De’Janae is a wonderful addition to the Penn State community and to our program,” said Washington “We are very excited that she has joined our Lady Lion family.”
Boykin, who earned McDonald’s All-American honors as a senior, becomes the fourth player to earn the prestigious honor that has joined the Penn State program under Washington. She joins Candice Agee (Victorville, Calif.), Brianna Banks (Newnan, Ga.) and Sierra Moore (Hanover, Pa.).
A highly decorated prep, Boykin was the 2014 Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Maryland after averaging 21.1 points, 15.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game during her junior season at C. H. Flowers High School. Her senior season included just six games – averaging 21.5 points per game – before she was sidelined due to injury, however, her efforts still earned her McDonald’s All-America honors and was the No. 23 ranked player in the country according to ESPN/HoopGurlz.
As a sophomore, Boykin burst onto the national scene by averaging 15.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.1 steals, and 2.0 blocked shots to help Flowers to a 19-4 record and an appearance in the Maryland 4A South State Finals. She played her freshman season at Riverdale Baptist, averaging 8.0 points and 4.0 rebounds to help the team to a national top-five ranking.
Her career also included extensive USA Basketball experience, including three gold medals in international competition. Boykin teamed with Napheesa Collier and Katie Lou Samuelson in to win gold in the 3-on-3 competition at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China. She started all seven games for Team USA at the 2014 FIBA U-17 World Championships, averaging 5.1 points and ranking second on the team with 6.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists, helping Team USA top Spain on July 6 in the gold medal game. She started all five games at the 2013 FIBA Americas U-16 Championships, and averaged 8.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.2 steals to help Team USA to a 5-0 record.
