Head coach Kevin Boyle of FAB 50 Energy Montverde Academy (Fla.), this system he has led to seven FAB 50 nationwide titles for the reason that 2012-13 season, will head up this system at SPIRE Academy (Geneva, Ohio) starting with the 2025-26 season. The information will influence the highschool panorama, as Boyle has influenced the highschool sport on a large number of ranges.
Kevin Boyle, who has helped raised the profile of big-time highschool basketball over the previous decade plus at Montverde Academy (Fla.), is trying to keep one step forward of the sport as soon as once more. It was introduced as we speak he’s leaving this system he helped make a world model since taking up in 2011-12, to take over this system at SPIRE Academy (Geneva, Ohio) starting subsequent season.
In Boyle’s time at Montverde Academy, he’s 363-32 heading into the inaugural EYBL Scholastic Event happening on the Riverview Park Actions Heart in North Augusta, S.C., March 5-8. Extra importantly than his file, he has gained numerous large video games and helped take the highlight and degree of competitors of academy-type packages to new heights.
As soon as checked out as outliers or stops for gamers with educational shortcomings or the place a change of surroundings was essential, these academy-type packages that do not play for state championships at the moment are way more accepted throughout the panorama and Montverde Academy’s dominance underneath Boyle aided that. His program’s profile additionally helped the creation of the EYBL Scholastic League in 2020-21 when it was often known as the Nationwide Interscholastic Basketball Convention.
SPIRE Academy is banking on Boyle elevating the profile of its program in comparable style on this new day of high-stakes highschool basketball that’s influenced by the nation’s elite gamers having the ability to revenue by means of their title, picture, and likeness (NIL) since July of 2021. With Boyle on the helm, there may be little doubt a few of the nation’s elite will severely think about becoming a member of this system transferring ahead due to his monitor file.
SPIRE Academy is presently an Beneath Armour-sponsored program, and much like Montverde Academy, has a varsity and post-graduate workforce. As of now, SPIRE Academy just isn’t a part of any state affiliation or nationwide convention.
“I feel with the altering panorama of highschool and school basketball that SPIRE has the correct management, imaginative and prescient and plan to realize its targets,” Boyle instructed Ballislife. “These targets embrace to develop into one, if not the highest, highschool program.”
Boyle additionally said this system “checks all of the bins” with regard to the place the panorama of highschool basketball is headed. NIL drives decision-making on the collegiate degree at a widespread degree. NIL influenced decision-making among the many nation’s elite highschool gamers has develop into extra outstanding every season since 2021 and search for that development to proceed to uptick.
In an announcement on its web site, Montverde Academy introduced it would conduct a “complete nationwide search” for its subsequent head coach and devoted Director of the Heart for Basketball Growth.
A Lasting Legacy
In his first season at Montverde Academy, the Eagles misplaced within the championship sport of Chipotle Excessive Faculty Nationals to Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), however after that first season the Eagles took off. They haven’t completed ranked decrease than No. 5 within the FAB 50 in previous 12 seasons, though they presently sit at 19-6 and ranked No. 9 heading into their March 6 quarterfinal contest with FAB 50 No. 10 CIA Bella Vista (Phoenix, Ariz.).
Since 2012-13, Montverde Academy has started as preseason FAB 50 No. 1 9 instances and have gained the FAB 50 Nationwide title because the No. 1 workforce seven instances (2013-15, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2024). This system additionally gained Chipotle Nationals in those self same years anticipate in 2020 when the occasion did not happen due to COVID-19. The 2022 workforce additionally gained the end-of-season occasion when it completed No. 2 within the FAB 50. The 2018, 2020 and 2024 workforce additionally completed undefeated in opposition to difficult nationwide schedules.
The seven FAB 50 titles ties Boyle with now retired Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) coach Steve Smith for essentially the most all-time.
Particular person Expertise Shines Beneath Boyle
Previous to Montverde Academy, Boyle coached at St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.), which is now working away from the diocese underneath the title Patrick Faculty (Hackettstown, N.J.). Together with his time at St. Patrick, Boyle is presently 873-164. There in his native New Jersey is the place Boyle started to harness a few of the nation’s most interesting highschool expertise. He coached All-American Al Harrington, 2011 Mr. Basketball USA Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Kyrie Irving, the No. 1 decide of the 2011 NBA Draft, amongst others.
In all Boyle has coached six Mr. Basketball USA honorees, the person honor devoted to the nation’s finest highschool participant strictly on highschool resume and workforce success. Along with Irving, the gamers named Mr. Basketball USA at Montverde Academy are Ben Simmons (2015), R.J. Barrett (2018), Cade Cunningham (2020), Dariq Whitehead (2022) and Cooper Flagg (2024). Simmons and Cunningham are developed into No. 1 NBA Draft picks and Duke’s Flagg can be within the operating to be chosen No. 1 in 2025.
Simmons instructed Ballislife he felt comfy attending Montverde Academy as a result of it was this system he acknowledged as a younger participant rising up in Australia.
One 12 months after enjoying for Boyle on the 2020 nationwide championship workforce, Cunningham, Scottie Barnes (No. 4), Moses Moody (No. 14), and Day’Ron Sharpe all had been drafted within the first spherical. In that 2021 NBA Draft, Boyle had seven of his former gamers drafted. This 12 months, Flagg, Derik Queen (Maryland), Liam McNeeley (UConn) and Asa Newell (Georgia) may all be first spherical NBA Draft picks. Robert Wright (Baylor) is one other terrific expertise off final 12 months’s undefeated membership.
These names and numbers stand out to oldsters, coaches and to the administrators at SPIRE Academy. The Ohio-based program is banking on Boyle re-creating that kind of success.
Ronnie Flores is the nationwide Grassroots editor of Ballislife.com. He may be reached at [email protected]. Remember to observe him on Twitter: @RonMFlores
