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Former LaFayette star Corey Boston’s college journey has been far from a straightforward path. Boston has seen several bumps in the road since he graduated high school in 2020, but now he is ready to make a statement during his last season at the college ranks. 

Boston signed with Snead State out of high school but found himself transferring to Eastern Arizona after a year. He flourished at Eastern Arizona, averaging 16 points per game as the starting point guard. However, after a year he transferred to Chattahoochee Valley Community College. 

Boston’s stop at Chattahoochee Valley once again saw him flourish as he averaged 14 points per game while making the all-conference team. Transferring made things difficult for him, but Boston learned how to adapt during his first few years in college. 

“I think the main thing I learned being at four different schools since I’ve been out of high school is to not get complacent,” Boston said. “How I envisioned one situation, it might not be the same when I get there. I need to adapt to whatever is thrown my way. Everything is not going to be all glitter and gold when you get there. Coaches might tell you one thing, but it might not actually be that when you get there. You’ve got to keep pushing and keep adapting.” 

After a year at Chattahoochee Valley, Boston transferred to Concord University in West Virginia. He saw his role significantly decrease there as he became the backup point guard. 

Boston accepting his new role was tough, but he eventually learned to accept the role and help his team when needed. 

“It was really tough, especially starting out,” Boston said. “If we go back to high school, I was starting in 10th grade and played a lot in ninth grade. Every year after tenth grade I was starting. To go that long starting to then come off the bench, and some games barely playing, it was tough.” 

“College is a business,” Boston said. “Once I got out of my feelings about not starting and accepted my role of being the backup point guard and being there when the team needed me, I didn’t care as much about not starting. I started feeling better about my role.” 

Moving to West Virginia for a kid from LaFayette was also a major adjustment. Luckily, Boston received a warm welcome from his teammates and the college challenged him in ways he never expected. 

“It’s in West Virginia, so it’s very different than Alabama,” Boston said. “They challenge you academically. I need that… I’m learning a lot. The college life wasn’t new to me when I got to Concord. They did a good job of welcoming me, especially the older guys on the team.” 

Boston has one last year of eligibility remaining, and he plans to make it count. He has been hard at work back home in LaFayette this summer. Boston plans to secure a starting role in his final season, but he also has loftier goals for himself. 

Making an all-conference team is one of Boston’s biggest goals next season. Ultimately, he wants to set himself up to become a professional basketball player after graduation. 

“This is probably the hardest I’ve worked in the offseason since I’ve been in college,” Boston said. “The main thing would be getting into the starting lineup. Once I solidify myself as a starter, I want to set a goal for myself to make all-conference. Once I add that title to my name, that would be two all-conference teams that I’ve made in college. After that, I’m hoping to continue as a pro. Getting that all-conference accolade would boost my chances of being a pro.” 

Boston knows that he has to be better than any competition and work harder than everyone to get the opportunity to play professional basketball. The chip on his shoulder heading into his final season is larger than most. 

Going to the NBA is a dream of Boston’s, but it is not the only route that he is focused on. He knows that playing overseas could be more realistic and give him more opportunities. 

“It’s tough to make it to the NBA,” Boston said. “If that opportunity happens, I’m ready for it. I’m really just focused on going overseas. If you’re a pro, you’re a pro. That’s how I look at it.” 

Several former LaFayette athletes have come back to the community this summer to give back to younger athletes. Boston and Trevond Barnes have been busy helping out with basketball camps. Barnes is set to host his own camp starting on July 12. 

Barnes was a role model for Boston, and now he hopes to return the favor to others like him. Barnes has been playing overseas since 2020 and now has the ability to give back. Boston hopes to make that same impact in the future. 

“Tre is like a big brother to me,” Boston said. “We’ve kind of got the same vision. Tre is playing pro and I want to play pro. If I get there, I do want to give back to the community the way that Tre did when he got to college. He used to come home in the summer and work out with me when I was in high school. I want to do the same thing for the next generation.”
“I’ve got a younger sister going into the seventh grade. She’s going to be at Tre’s camp,” Boston added. “I’m doing the same thing, I’m coming home in the summer and working out with her… I don’t want anybody to say they didn’t have a chance to be good. People worked with me when I was younger. I want to do the same thing for them. I feel like it could be a repeating cycle.” 

Going the JUCO route can be tough, Boston has seen that firsthand. He still believes that the route is worth it for kids in this area who really love basketball and want to make it to the next level. 

“I’d tell them it’s worth it,” Boston said. “Some people will look down on JUCO. Basketball is basketball. You’ve got to be that much hungrier. At JUCO, everybody wants to get to that next level, but not everybody is going to have that chance. For you to get that next level, you’ve got to be better than them, outwork them and want it more than them.” 

Through every bit of adversity and trial, Boston’s love for basketball has never wavered. It’s only grown. Basketball has opened up so many opportunities for Boston along the way. 

“It means a lot to me. I’ve been playing basketball since fourth grade,” Boston said. “My love for it just grew. Basketball took me to Arizona. I’ve been to a bunch of states just by playing basketball…Basketball helped me see different things, experience different things, go to new places and meet new people.”