Jada Boyd Will In Fact Return to Play for NC State

Back on August 12th it was reported that NC State Forward Jada Boyd would not be returning for her Senior season. There was never a statement from Boyd. It was revealed that she wasn’t enrolling in classes, but it also wasn’t clear if she would be playing basketball at another school this season.

Jonas Pope IV, of the News and Observer, broke the news today that Boyd will in fact be enrolling at NC State and playing her Senior season for the Wolfpack.

Boyd has been an integral part Wes Moore’s NC State Women’s Basketball team the past three seasons, that has won 3 consecutive ACC titles. She hasn’t been a starter, and only averaged 7.6 points and 4.4 rebounds as a Junior, but don’t let that fool you. She has been essential. Last year as a Junior, Boyd earned All-ACC Tournament 1st Team honors. As a Sophomore, she earned the ACC 6th Player of the Year honors. As a Freshman, Boyd earned ACC All-Freshman Team honors. As a Senior in High School at Appomattox County High in Virginia, she was a 5 star prospect, ranked as the #32 overall player nationally in the 2019 recruiting class.

After the exodus of Elissa Cunane, Raina Perez, Kayla Jones, Kai Crutchfield, the loss of Boyd would have been astronomical. While she might not have been a starter the past 3 seasons, Boyd has been at the very core of what Wes Moore has built.

Senior Wing Jakia Brown-Turner is the only returning starter this year, but Junior Guard Diamond Johnson and Boyd were expected to join her.

A lot of players were lost after last season, but players were added. Interestingly, none of the players added are freshman, but 3 players were added via the transfer portal: Graduate Center River Baldwin (FSU), Graduate Forward Mimi Collins (Maryland) and Sophomore Guard Saniya Rivers (South Carolina).

With Boyd back alongside Brown-Turner, they have the ability to help these newcomers understand the culture that Wes Moore has built at NC State.