KCC's Women's Basketball Superstar Justinna Boatwright '26

At 35 Years Old, Sports Management Major Justinna Boatwright ’26 Is KCC’s Women’s Basketball Superstar

athletics

KCC Women's Basketball forward and point guard Justinna Boatwright '26 at a recent practice.

In 2008, Justinna Boatwright was racking up wins and early recognition as a standout point guard on York College’s women’s basketball team. By the end of the season she was named Rookie of the Year and CUNY Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) Freshman of the Year. Then, life happened.

She dropped out of school and worked multiple jobs to help support her mom and seven siblings. She still played ball when she could, at rec centers and city parks, “but could I run up and down the court under the whistle?” she said during a recent practice. “Um, no.”

Then, four years ago, her uncle and her grandmother, who had always pushed her to return to school and finish her degree, both passed away within the same year.

“That always been their dream and my dream—to still finish out with school,” she said.

So the girl from Hollis, Queens who now calls Flatbush home set about enrolling at Kingsborough (“it’s a good, two-year school,” she said), in the sports management program.

“I was a computer science major at York, because I just love computers and stuff; but I was just like, you know what? If I’m going to go back to school, let’s do something I really love. So I’ll stick with them sports,” she said. “Then I talked to the coach and said I wanted to join the team.”

Boatwright, whose older brother put a basketball in her hands when she was 3 years old and has loved the game ever since, knew she had the skill and experience to still play, but at 34 years old, her primary concern was her speed.

“I'm like, all right, these young kids are going to be faster than me and in shape so I'm like, if I could keep up with them, then I'm good to go,” she said. “And then I was.”

Fifteen years after stepping off the court at York, Boatwright is back and leading The Wave to a number one tied spot in CUNY, and number 3 in the region overall.

Now a sophomore, she’s earning academic recognition as well as athletic ones—she has a 3.75 GPA and just made dean’s list. She’s deciding if she wants to transfer to a four-year school--she has her eye on Brooklyn’s basketball team—or to get work using her degree when she graduates this June.

Boatwright makes it sound easy, but in addition to her skill and experience, she was also willing to put in the time and effort without any of the fanfare to get to this moment—she spent all of last season going to practice, but not playing in any games.

“Last year was a conditioning year,” she said.

According to her coaches, her age is an asset, not a weakness. When Boatwright is on the court, said Women’s Basketball Assistant Coach Fernando Jordan, “it’s like having another coach on the floor.”

In a game where there are very few still moments of performance and players have to strategize and execute in real time, Boatwright can do it all.

“She’s a hard worker, she’s a leader; she helps keep the team in check,” said Head Women’s Basketball Coach Brendon Bain.

Boatwright’s teammates welcome it too.

“She’s like our auntie,” said freshman Mariana Richards. “She’s just a great leader and always pushing us to be the best versions of ourselves.”

“She just makes us want to be a better person, in basketball and in life,” added point guard Kianny Aristy.

Boatwright can play any position, she said, but officially, she is a forward and point guard.

Kingsborough Athletic Director Bobby Allison has another name for her: superstar.

“You can just tell her IQ for the game,” he said. “She plays smart basketball. She knows what is supposed to happen or what could happen before it happens.”

For Allison, Boatwright’s return to the court at Kingsborough is also a shot at recapturing what he once thought was a missed opportunity—in 2008 he tried to recruit her when he was head coach at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica. He lost her to York.

“I had just come off three straight national titles, so I was choosey at the time,” he said. “I was on to her. She was really good.”

Fifteen years later, she’s playing for him, her team, Kingsborough—and for Lawrence and Fannie Mae House—her uncle and grandmother.

When graduation day comes around this June, she’ll be thinking of them.

“That be the first thing I think of,” she said. “Grandma and uncle, I did it.”

JBYork

Boatwright in 2008.

The Kingsborough Community College Women’s Basketball Team plays its final home game of the regular season Thursday, Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. The semifinal game is set for Tuesday, Feb. 17 and CUNYAC finals are scheduled for Friday, Feb. 20. Check the Women’s Basketball schedule for more information.