LIU-Brooklyn’s Julian Boyd granted sixth year of eligibility

Julian Boyd will be back at LIU-Brooklyn next season after the NCAA granted him a sixth year of eligibility.

The school released a statement Tuesday afternoon confirming the news.

“I am thrilled with the news of Julian being awarded a sixth year of eligibility,” head men’s basketball coach Jack Perri said in the release. “He has been through more adversity due to circumstances that were out of control than anyone I have been around, and it would have been a shame to have his collegiate career end prematurely.”

Boyd, 6-7, 230 pounds, was on pace to possibly take home a second-straight Northeast Conference Player of the Year award, but tore his ACL in a 97-70 victory over Rice, the eighth game of the season for the Blackbirds. There were some questions as to whether Boyd had played too many games to be eligible for the medical hardship. The NCAA sided with Boyd, fortunately.

Through those eight games, Boyd was averaging 18.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per games. He missed the 2010-11 season with a heart condition.

A San Antonio, Texas native, Boyd averaged 17.4 points and 9.3 rebounds during the 2011-12 season, helping LIU-Brooklyn to their second straight NEC tournament championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. The program still reached the NCAA Tournament without Boyd last season and has made three straight overall by way of three straight NEC tournament titles.

Boyd will be the focal point of the roster next season, with 2012-13 NEC Player of the Year Jamal Olasewere (18.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, 51.5-percent shooting) and C.J. Garner (16.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 44.3-percent from three) exhausting their eligibility. Players like point guard Jason Brickman (9.5 points, 8.5 assists per game), and Brandon Thompson (8.1 points, 3.1 rebounds) return.

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