Each and every year, there seems to be a handful of WPIAL and City League seniors who, despite their obvious talent and enormous production, don’t get the college attention it seems like they deserve.
No player in this year’s senior class might epitomize that more than Khiryn Boyd, a dynamic wide receiver-safety at North Allegheny who is now looking forward to showing what he can do while playing for one of the few schools that thought enough of him to offer him a scholarship.
“I feel like I was under recruited,” Boyd said, “but I also have a chip on my shoulder to prove the other coaches wrong.”
Their loss, Duquesne’s gain.
Boyd, a two-time WPIAL Class 6A champion and a two-time PUP all-star selection, committed to Duquesne last Friday after taking an official visit to the school the previous weekend. He then announced his decision on social media on Monday. Boyd said he chose the Dukes over a scholarship offer from Howard (like the Dukes, Howard competes at the FCS level) and a preferred walk-on offer from West Virginia. His other offers included Robert Morris, Ohio Dominican, Notre Dame College and Lawrence Tech.
“It’s close to my mom, I feel like I can play as soon as I get there, and there are some great guys on the coaching staff,” Boyd said when asked why he picked Duquesne.
Duquesne remained persistent in recruiting Boyd since extending him a scholarship offer in June.
“Ever since the offer, coach Mickey [Jacobs], the DB coach, he would text me every single day,” said Boyd, who moved with his family to the area from Bakersfield, Calif., when he was in eighth grade.
Boyd (6 feet, 175 pounds) greatly impacted all three phases of the game his senior season. Playing on a team that reached the PIAA Class 6A final, Boyd hauled in a team-best 32 passes for 846 yards (26.4 yards per reception) and 10 touchdowns, had eight carries for 91 yards and two touchdowns, intercepted two passes, and averaged 39.7 yards per kick return and 25.9 yards a punt return. He found the end zone five times via return touchdowns, scoring twice on kick returns, twice on punt returns, and once on an interception return.
The toughest call might be what position Boyd plays at the next level.
“That’s the thing. They don’t know yet. So I’m going as an athlete,” Boyd said.
Boyd won’t be the first athlete in his family to play college football. His impressive family tree includes uncle Joey Porter and cousins Joey Porter Jr. and Dwayne Taylor. Taylor plays at Notre Dame College.
Since committing to Duquesne, Boyd’s role has changed from recruit to recruiter. His primary target is North Allegheny teammate Aidan Buggey, a defensive end who picked up a Duquesne offer last week.
Boyd is one of two North Allegheny standouts to pick a college in the past week. Linebacker Tyree Alualu committed to Temple. Alualu’s father, Tyson, helped the Detroit Lions notch their first playoff win in 32 years last Saturday. Tyree wasn’t there, though. He’s in Hawaii gearing up to play in Friday’s Polynesian Bowl.
“Man, [Temple is] getting a dog, but at the same time a clown,” Boyd said with a laugh. “He’s different. On the football field, he is going to get the job done.”
Fusetti to Mercyhurst
For the second year in a row, a Blackhawk basketball star has decided to play at Mercyhurst. Alena Fusetti, a 5-10 senior guard, announced her commitment on Sunday. Fusetti is the leading scorer (16.1 points per game) for a Blackhawk team that is 13-2. An outstanding shooter, Fusetti has made six 3-pointers in a game twice this season and has 40 triples total. She’s shooting 43% from deep, 47% from the field, and 73% from the free-throw line.
At Mercyhurst, Fusetti will reunite with Quinn Borroni, a freshman guard with the Lakers. A season ago, the two helped Blackhawk reach the WPIAL Class 4A final and PIAA Class 4A final.
Also committing to play at Mercyhurst was South Fayette senior Erica Hall, a 5-11 guard-forward who helped the Lions win back-to-back WPIAL Class 5A titles her sophomore and junior seasons.
Baseball commitments
Penn Hills’ Connor Lehman (Geneva); Penn-Trafford’s Devin Stowers (La Roche).
Basketball commitments
Plum’s Pascale Olczak (Allegheny); St. Joseph’s Anna Kreinbrook (Catholic).
Football commitments
Belle Vernon’s Dane Levi (Millersville); Central Catholic’s Tanner Fuchs (IUP); Central Catholic’s Grayson Nugent (California); Central Catholic’s Anthony Shovlin (IUP); Chartiers Valley’s Tyler Glover (Duquesne); Deer Lakes’ Nick Rossi (Edinboro); Geibel Catholic’s Da’sjon Craggette (California); Ligonier Valley’s Haden Sierocky (Washington & Jefferson); North Catholic’s Alex Jackson (Carnegie Mellon); Sto-Rox’s Amare Harper (Slippery Rock); Westinghouse’s Sincere Shannon (Slippery Rock); Woodland Hills’ Pierce Cannon (IUP).
Soccer commitments
North Catholic’s Rylee Kumer (Mercyhurst); Waynesburg’s Brynn Kirby (Waynesburg).
Softball commitment
Montour’s Gia Labrie (Point Park).
Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.