GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Nick Boyd, Johnell Davis, and Alijah Martin found their group chat buzzing last Sunday night as they realized their former Florida Atlantic team had positioned them on the same side of the NCAA Tournament bracket. Despite playing for different teams now scattered across the United States, the prospect of facing each other in the tournament invigorated them with excitement, hoping for a potential Elite Eight showdown.
Reflecting on the opportunity, Boyd expressed, “I’d love to compete against any of them. They’re my brothers; we would have so much fun.” Like Davis, Martin, and center Vladislav Goldin, Boyd has joined March Madness for a third consecutive year, albeit in different team colors. Boyd now leads San Diego State with a scoring average of 13.4 points per game. Davis serves as the third top scorer for Arkansas, averaging 11.2 points, while Martin opted to stay relatively close to home and now ranks as the second leading scorer for Florida with 14.5 points per game. Meanwhile, Goldin thrived under coach Dusty May at Michigan and stands out nationally by averaging 16.7 points and 6.8 rebounds.
Individually, their performances have matched their collective prowess. “A lot of our guys had monster seasons,” Boyd remarked, emphasizing how their talent and experience allowed them to thrive in new environments. With no surprises expected, one of them could very well end up celebrating a championship win in San Antonio next month. Martin’s team carries high hopes as Florida enters the tournament as a No. 1 seed and is currently on a winning streak, having triumphed in 12 of their last 13 games and clinching the Southeastern Conference Tournament title.
“This team could finish it off, finish the job, honestly,” Martin stated, reflecting on their journey that began years earlier in Boca Raton. Together, Boyd, Davis, and Martin were instrumental in FAU’s remarkable season, recording 35 wins during the 2022-23 season, including an impressive run as a No. 9 seed that led them to the Final Four for the first time in the program’s history. Remembering that historic journey sparks both admiration and pain as they upset several higher-seed teams and embraced college basketball’s grand stage.
Their spectacular run, however, ended in heartache; a semifinal loss to San Diego State saw FAU squandering a 14-point lead and conceding victory as Davis’ final attempt was blocked, followed by San Diego State’s buzzer-winning shot over Boyd’s arm.
“It was a special team,” Martin recalled, acknowledging the unexpected success that group achieved. Despite their aspirations for another remarkable season, FAU’s following bid faltered, ending with an overtime defeat to Northwestern in the first round. With coach May’s departure to Michigan shortly after, FAU’s team gradually dissolved, leading many players to seek fresh starts through transfers. While physically apart, the bonds they formed remain strong. “We keep in touch all the time,” Davis stated.
Boyd, Davis, Martin, and Giancarlo Rosado, who graduated together in 2020, maintain close ties, frequently texting and discussing their lives through video chats. They’ve even planned an offseason reunion with Goldin, who recently got engaged. His emotions upon reuniting with his Russian family for the first time since his collegiate career began echoed his bond with his former teammates. “I told them: ‘I love you guys. Thank you for giving me a family.’”
Boyd and Martin sometimes ponder if their FAU team had remained intact for another season. Boyd reminisced about their progress: from freshman year benchwarmers to key players spearheading their March Madness fairy tale, driven by a shared love for basketball. “Our competitive edge was different,” Boyd noted. Coach May’s eye for enthusiastic recruits laid the groundwork for their success, fostering an environment where their commitment to basketball fueled continuous improvement.
Revisiting the Final Four achievements brings an emotional rush for Boyd, as echoed by a shared video montage that encapsulated their historic journey. “I miss those guys all the time, coaches, players, everybody included,” Boyd shared, encapsulating the enduring impact of that memorable team.
