North Hardin 3-star WR Shaun Boykins Jr. high on Kentucky's family vibes

Shaun Boykins Jr. earned his scholarship from Kentucky over the summer, but this past weekend was his first true look at what the program has to offer.

The class of 2024 three-star wide receiver was in Lexington for UK football’s annual Junior Day, one of many talented prospects that were in town. Boykins is a local recruit, suiting up for North Hardin High School over in Radcliff, KY, which sits about an hour west of Louisville. He finished the 2022 season with 56 receptions for 897 yards and 10 touchdowns while adding another 221 yards and five scores on the ground.

Boykins initially visited Kentucky back in July for a camp, which resulted in him leaving campus with an offer. But this trip was much more thorough for the 6-foot-1, 185-pound pass catcher, who was joined by his three-star class of 2024 North Hardin teammate, EDGE Darius Wiley.

“First, when we went up there, they did introductions like getting to know the whole staff. Then we split into groups,” Boykins told KSR of his visit. “So first we started talking about academic requirements for the school and what the academic support is like for the team and players. Next we went into the photo shoot and stuff like that and everything was really nice, all the gear and the accessories and stuff were real nice. Then we talked about NIL(name, image, and likeness) and how they help promote the players, help their social media grow, and help them with business opportunities. Another coach started to talk to us about how they go to these dinners and help people with opportunities outside of football.”

The Kentucky football staff is no stranger to recruiting North Hardin prospects, which will surely help them in their pursuit of Boykins. Four Wildcats from the 2022 roster graduated from North Hardin, most of them significant contributors: DT Octavious Oxendine, DB Jordan Lovett, RB La’Vell Wright, and DL Isaiah Beasley.

“That was really like my first visit but I already knew what it was kinda like,” Boykins said. “After I went to camp there, I went in the locker room because some of my former teammates from high school go there. So they showed me around the locker room.”

This time around, Boykins was treated to far more than just a locker room tour. He was particularly impressed with the atmosphere at Rupp Arena for the much-anticipated matchup between Kentucky and Kansas. Even though UK lost, Boykins liked what he saw, particularly the love that was being showered for a pair of 2023 basketball signees in attendance, Robert Dillingham and Reed Sheppard.

“It was cool, it was a sold-out game, it was really loud,” Boykins said of his experience at Rupp. “The student section and the fans had a crazy energy. When they called out and introduced Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard, they were showing them crazy love and that was cool to see.”

While visiting for Junior Day, Boykins said he was able to chalk it up with defensive coordinator Brad White. The two actually talked about basketball more than football, with White hyping up Boykins’ crazy viral dunk from earlier in the month as a member of the North Hardin basketball team.

He is here!!!!! Yes sir!!!!@NorthHardinBB @crim_coach @Clark3Tanner @SportsCenter @sb3jr @NorthHardinBB @Born_R3ady pic.twitter.com/vPNvHPFgJd

— Brent Thompson (@FBCoachThompson) January 18, 2023

Boykins also spent plenty of time on the visit with one of his friends, Cutter Boley, who is considered a four-star QB from the class of 2025 and currently plays for Lexington Christian Academy. Boykins and Boley know each other from the latter’s time playing at LaRue County, which is in the same region as North Hardin. Even after Boley transferred to LCA, the two remain in close contact.

“I know Cutter pretty well,” Boykins said. “We go back. I’ve known him since we were younger. We used to play basketball together. When he was at LaRue County, that school’s in my region so over the summer, me and Cutter would talk weekly. Now I’d say we talk every couple of weeks.”

That close, local connection appears to be extra important for Boykins, extending beyond his relationship with just Boley and his fellow North Hardin Trojans.

“I like how they’re pursuing all the top in-state prospects. Like quarterbacks, receivers, running backs, o-line, d-line. I like how it’s everyone. I’ve seen a lot of familiar faces there,” Boykins said before adding that he senses a family vibe within the program. “What I learned is that everyone on the team gets together and with the staff. There is no really inside problems, everyone is loyal.”

Boykins doesn’t have a timeline right now for a potential decision but did mention that he’s planning on taking several visits once the dead period ends in the spring. A few of the programs he hopes to check out include Louisville, West Virginia, Indiana, Purdue, and Rutgers. From there, Boykins would like to assess his options and trim down his list around June or July.