BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Former Northeast Conference Player of the Year and LIU Brooklyn alum Julian Boyd has signed his first professional contract with Porvoon Tarmo of the First Division in Finland. Boyd, who endured a number of obstacles throughout his collegiate career, was a key cog in the Blackbirds' unprecedented run of three straight NEC titles from 2010-13.
After being named the NEC Rookie of the Year in 2008-09, Boyd was forced to miss the 2009-10 season due to a heart ailment. After undergoing an exhaustive, year-long series of tests, Boyd was cleared to play for the start of the 2010-11 season and led LIU Brooklyn to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since the 1996-97 season while averaging 13.0 points and 8.9 rebounds per contest.
The following season, Boyd earned NEC Player of the Year honors and helped the Blackbirds to another NEC crown by setting career highs in scoring (17.4) and rebounding (9.3) while also shooting 55.7 percent from the floor. Boyd was primed for another impressive year in 2012-13, averaging 18.5 points and 6.1 rebounds through eight games before a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee derailed his season.
LIU went on to win its third straight league championship without Boyd, but the San Antonio, Texas native was awarded a rare sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA for the 2013-14 season. While rehabbing his knee injury, Boyd re-tore the same ACL in July of 2013 and then, after an aggressive attempt to return for NEC play, saw his collegiate career come to a close after another setback in December of the same year.
More recently, Boyd competed at the 2015 Gotham Hoops Invitational at Adelphi University in Garden City, N.Y. on May 30. Boyd, along with former teammates Jamal Olasewere, Troy Joseph and Kurt Joseph, as well as recent LIU graduates Gerrell Martin and Landon Atterberry, all took part in the showcase event.
Boyd will be joining a team coached by former Blackbird and Finland native Esa Maki-Tulokas. Maki-Tulokas was a four-year letterwinner from 2003-07 and scored 724 points during his career with LIU Brooklyn. Porvoon Tarmo went 10-22 last season and will begin the 2015-16 in early October.