Kevin Boyle, a towering figure in high school basketball coaching, will depart Florida's Montverde Academy for Spire Academy in Ohio at the conclusion of the current season. Boyle, known for his remarkable coaching career, has guided three No. 1 picks in the NBA draft and captured eight of the last 12 national championships. A four-time Naismith High School Coach of the Year, he is widely acknowledged as a future Hall of Famer.
Since joining Montverde in 2011 from St. Patrick High School in New Jersey, Boyle has transformed the program into a national powerhouse. Under his leadership, Montverde has become a breeding ground for top NBA talent, including names like Cade Cunningham, Joel Embiid, Kyrie Irving, and Scottie Barnes, among others. The team currently holds a record of 19-6 and is gearing up to extend its season at the inaugural Nike EYBL Scholastic Tournament in North Augusta, South Carolina. The stakes are high, as the tournament winner will secure an automatic berth to the Chipotle High School National Championship tournament in Indianapolis.
Boyle's departure comes at a time when high school basketball is undergoing significant changes. Since 2021, athletes have been allowed to profit from their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), altering how they plan their pathways to college. Boyle himself remarked on this shift, stating, "the entire landscape of high school basketball has changed."
As he prepares to join Spire Academy, Boyle will collaborate with managing partner Jonathan Ehrenfeld to chart a new course forward. This move marks an exciting chapter for both Boyle and Spire Academy, where he aims to continue his legacy of developing top-tier basketball talent.
Cooper Flagg, one of Boyle's recent protégés and a projected No. 1 pick, expressed his admiration for the coach:
"the greatest high school coach of all time" – Cooper Flagg
Flagg also shared how playing under Boyle's guidance was pivotal in his development:
"playing for Coach Boyle was a huge step in my basketball journey. His belief and confidence in me pushed me to grow and become the player I am today." – Cooper Flagg
Liam McNeeley, another of Boyle's former players, echoed these sentiments:
"is the best high school basketball coach of all time, and I wish I could play for him just one more time." – Liam McNeeley
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