Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Senior Michael Boynton draws on his life experiences to be a leader for his teammates BY BRAD SENKIW THE GAMECOCK Change might not be Michael Boynton’s favorite word, but it’s one he’s had to get used to. The senior captain from Brooklyn, N.Y., has seen it all in his fourth year at Carolina, from adjusting to the Southern lifestyle to switching coaches to seeing play ing time fluctuate to the comings and goings of many teammates. And now, the experi enced floor general might be facing his biggest basketball challenge: leading a youthful squad that was selected to finish last in the SEC East. “You have to be able to adjust to differ ent situations and I think that for the most part been I’ve been able to handle those sit uations,” Boynton said. Although this seems like a daunting task, growing up on the rough streets of Brooklyn doesn’t compare. Boynton owes overcom ing life’s obstacles to his family background. “I think that some of the experiences I’ve had and some of the things I’ve encountered growing up in New York, I could have easi ly went down that wrong path, but I had a strong family,” Boynton said. “My family is the biggest reason I’m the person I am to- * day. My parents always instilled in me val ues and morals to do the right things and work hard.” And it hasn’t just been his parents. Boynton has a daughter that has impacted his life unlike anyone else. “She was the single most calming influ ence in my life, kind of gave me a different perspective that life isn’t all about playing basketball and making jump shots. It’s about doing the right things, being good to people and helping people out when you can.” It’s been a long path for Boynton, who came to USC looking to get away and expe-j rience a new life. He said adjusting to the South has allowed him to see how different people are culturally and get a chance to broaden his view of life. “I’ve enjoyed it down here,” he said. “I could have easily gotten caught up in dif ferent things, but being down here allowed ♦ BOYNTON, SEE PAGE 8 I