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Off the Court with Mikayla Boykin
5/16/2020 7:51:00 AM | Women's Basketball
DURHAM, N.C.— With the completion of online schooling, rising junior Mikayla Boykin recently took time away from her schedule to sit down with GoDuke.com to catch up. Â
A product of Clinton, N.C., Boykin made her return to the court in January and was a key component of Duke's late season success as she played 22 or more minutes in her final eight games. Over those final eight contests, Boykin averaged 8.3 points, 4.3 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals. She has see action in only 35 games over the last three years due to knee injuries.
GoDuke.com: Where are you now?
Mikayla Boykin: I am home in Clinton, N.C.
GD:Â Is your entire family together?
MB: Yes! I am home with my mom, dad, grandpa, and two brothers
GD:Â Have you been able to train any with your brothers?
MB: Yeah, we do a little something when the weather allows it
GD:Â How was finishing up with online classes/exams since everyone was sent home due to the coronavirus?
MB: Online classes were tough, because it's a different environment than school. I had to find different places in the house that would allow me to focus. So that was a challenge. Finished the year out strong though.
GD: How have you and your teammates been staying in contact, while being off campus?
MB: We do FaceTime calls and talk in the group chat often.
GD: How have you been able to continue to work on your basketball skills and staying active during this time?
MB: Yeah I've been able to do a lot of basketball workouts and things of that sort. Even getting into fitness challenges with my friends is something that I'm doing to stay active.
GD: You were going to get a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in your career this year. How hard was it not to be able to play due to the coronavirus?
MB: Yeah it was hard for me because i felt like my team and I had the opportunity to do some great things. I was hurt but i was more hurt for our seniors.
GD: Have you picked up any new hobbies or done anything fun with the family?
MB: New hobbies i picked up is writing. I found my passion for writing and my family and i enjoy playing board games together.
GD: What have you been writing about?
MB: Just big on writing things about my life. Things I've been through.
GD:Â Have you been able to work on your cooking skills and if so what types of things have you been making?
MB: Haha, I've been making my all-time favorite upside down pizza. I'm getting really good at cooking that.
GD: What do you miss most about being on campus?
MB: I miss my friends the most. I have built so many friendships at Duke and not being able to see my friends often is something that i miss a lot.
GD: What books, television shows, podcasts or movies have you read or watched in the past few weeks?
MB: I haven't read any books yet but I'm actually going to order books to read. I have been watching a lot of Netflix. I just finished watching the show Sense 8 and I am about to start Outer Banks.
Â
A product of Clinton, N.C., Boykin made her return to the court in January and was a key component of Duke's late season success as she played 22 or more minutes in her final eight games. Over those final eight contests, Boykin averaged 8.3 points, 4.3 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals. She has see action in only 35 games over the last three years due to knee injuries.
GoDuke.com: Where are you now?
Mikayla Boykin: I am home in Clinton, N.C.
GD:Â Is your entire family together?
MB: Yes! I am home with my mom, dad, grandpa, and two brothers
GD:Â Have you been able to train any with your brothers?
MB: Yeah, we do a little something when the weather allows it
GD:Â How was finishing up with online classes/exams since everyone was sent home due to the coronavirus?
MB: Online classes were tough, because it's a different environment than school. I had to find different places in the house that would allow me to focus. So that was a challenge. Finished the year out strong though.
GD: How have you and your teammates been staying in contact, while being off campus?
MB: We do FaceTime calls and talk in the group chat often.
GD: How have you been able to continue to work on your basketball skills and staying active during this time?
MB: Yeah I've been able to do a lot of basketball workouts and things of that sort. Even getting into fitness challenges with my friends is something that I'm doing to stay active.
GD: You were going to get a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in your career this year. How hard was it not to be able to play due to the coronavirus?
MB: Yeah it was hard for me because i felt like my team and I had the opportunity to do some great things. I was hurt but i was more hurt for our seniors.
GD: Have you picked up any new hobbies or done anything fun with the family?
MB: New hobbies i picked up is writing. I found my passion for writing and my family and i enjoy playing board games together.
GD: What have you been writing about?
MB: Just big on writing things about my life. Things I've been through.
GD:Â Have you been able to work on your cooking skills and if so what types of things have you been making?
MB: Haha, I've been making my all-time favorite upside down pizza. I'm getting really good at cooking that.
GD: What do you miss most about being on campus?
MB: I miss my friends the most. I have built so many friendships at Duke and not being able to see my friends often is something that i miss a lot.
GD: What books, television shows, podcasts or movies have you read or watched in the past few weeks?
MB: I haven't read any books yet but I'm actually going to order books to read. I have been watching a lot of Netflix. I just finished watching the show Sense 8 and I am about to start Outer Banks.
Â
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