Former OKC Capitol Hill H.S. and University of San Francisco all-everything star guard Winford Boynes' status and whereabouts are still unknown these days even to family and ex-USF teammates. The 6-6 big shooting-guard phenom was last tracked by his teammates to somewhere outside of the USA. According to ex-USF teammate Doug Jemison, "Boynes gave up his US citizenship to be a Dutch citizen of Holland, and was last known to be living somewhere near Amsterdam."
Winford Boynes' impact on the game will never be underappreciated as he virtually pioneered the big-guard position. Boynes dominated at the high school level and then later on at the University of San Francisco, before a brief three-year career in the NBA as a professional with the New Jersey Nets and the Dallas Mavericks. He was truly one of the first true big guards in basketball prior to 6-9 Earvin "Magic" Johnson's arrival to the Los Angeles Lakers back in 1980.
Many Oklahoma Cityans got a chance to witness a dream team like USF lineup featuring Winford Boynes, James Hardy, Bill Cartwright, Doug Jemison, and Chubby Cox during the 42nd Annual All-College game in Oklahoma City at the Myriad Convention Center during the 1977-78 season. The Dons won the All College Championship that year primarily because of the talent and efforts of Oklahoma City's own - Winford Boynes.
Boynes also led USF in one of the most highly-anticipated matchups involving two nationally ranked powerhouse teams, as his Dons took on Notre Dame in one of the most-watched college basketball games in history back on March 5th, 1975. Boynes led the undefeated Dons at (29-0) into South Bend, Indiana to face the Fighting Irish in what was to become a game of epic proportions and great historical significance.
Boynes led all scorers with 23 points in what was called the game of the century then, but it was not enough to offset a pesky defense and a boisterous Notre Dame Fighting Irish crowd before losing 93-82. The capacity crowd spilled-out on to the floor as if they had won the national championship, even though it was just the last non-conference game of the regular season for both teams.
Former McGuinness H.S. stars Joe Edmonds and Matt Christiansen both signed letters of intent to play for USF this year joining Winford Boynes as the only three players in Oklahoma High School basketball history to take their talents to the prestigious university that just so happened to spawn other great NBA players like Bill Russell, K.C. Jones, and the late Quentin Daily. Boynes was obviously the player from Oklahoma that paved the way for future players from this area like Edmonds and Christiansen.
Boynes' and other great basketball players from Oklahoma that got drafted by the NBA between 1975 and 2009 will be featured in an upcoming made-for-television documentary. Boynes has been missing in action for many years from the various reunions and gatherings of his former teammates, and many concerned friends, ex-teammates, and basketball fans would just like to confirm his wherabouts and living status.
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