The futures of West Marion seniors Jayden Duncan and Josh Boone are set as the pair signed letters of intent Monday to play college baseball next year.
Duncan is a 5-foot-11, 210-pound third baseman and pitcher who signed with Southwest Mississippi Community College, while Boone, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound center fielder, inked with Copiah-Lincoln Community College.
“I’m very proud of these two young men,” Trojans head coach Derrick Jerkins said. “I know if they continue to work hard there’s some really big things in their future.”
West Marion High School Principal Gigi Dunaway also said she was proud of them and that she’s really excited about their future.
Over the past three seasons, Duncan has hit .384 with seven career homers and 81 RBI while pitching 119 innings with 127 strikeouts and a 3.35 ERA.
Duncan said signing to play collegiate baseball is the best feeling he’s ever had and that it means everything to him to accomplish something he’s dreamed about since he was a kid. He liked that Southwest is close to home and that he just had a feeling that he was needed there.
Duncan thanked his coaches, family and friends for helping him achieve his goal, but most of all he thanked God.
“Without Him, I wouldn’t be able to do any of it,” he said.
Because the pandemic cut short last year’s college season, every college player was granted an extra year of eligibility. That left a lot fewer scholarships available for high school players, and Duncan said he’s glad he doesn’t have to worry about it anymore.
Boone was hitting .444 with 10 stolen bases and nine runs scored through nine games before the 2020 season was canceled. As a sophomore, he hit .350 with a .559 on-base percentage and 21 steals. The outfielder said it’s just crazy to think about all that went in to becoming a collegiate athlete.
“This is everything I’ve worked for, my dream for my entire life,” he said. “It’s a good experience in this time when you don’t know what’s you get next. Now I know that if we don’t get to play this year, baseball continues for me.”
Co-Lin just felt like home to Boone, and he added he really liked the coaching staff and the program they are building.
“I just feel like it’s a great fit for me,” he said.
Going into the spring, Jerkins said that if Boone was able to add some muscle, it would pay off big time for him and help him hit for more power. Boone said he added about 15 pounds and has gotten a lot stronger in the weight room, and it showed up when he and Duncan were playing for a Mississippi showcase travel team.
“I had a really good summer. It was one of the best offensively I’ve ever had,” he said. “It was really due to working on stuff and getting bigger.”
Boone’s brother, Jacob Boone, also starred for West Marion and played first base at East Central Community College. Boone said he would not be in the position he’s in without Jacob’s guidance and tutelage.
“He was always a good hitter, and that was always my weakness. I was always a good fielder so we’re polar opposites. But we’ve worked together throughout the years, and he showed me what hard work does, how it pays off and what work you need to put in. Also he didn’t just show me that; he showed me how to improve my swing,” he explained. “I could not be here without my brother or my parents, who really supported me with anything and everything. That’s big and I really appreciate my family for that.”
Jerkins said any time one of his players sign is special, but having both Duncan and Boone play for him since they were eighth graders makes it even more special. He added they both deserve it for all the extra time they put in to become better players.
“They both have a really good baseball IQ, both of them have put in a lot of hard work and both of them have put in a lot of time in the weight room to develop their bodies and get a lot stronger,” he said.
