By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine
One of the best two-sport recruits in the Cenla area in 2024 is Haidyn Boone, a Class of 2025 football and baseball prospect at Buckeye.
Boone will have the opportunity to play either sport, or both, at the next level.
He’s mostly a receiver and a good one in football, snagging 952 yards on 52 catches (18.3 yards per grab) including 11 touchdowns as a WR in 2023. Boone made the Rapides Parish Journal’s All-Parish Team and was first-team all-district.
In springtime, he is a really good shortstop and pitcher, earning honorable mention All-State honors for a second straight season as a junior.
Haidyn stands 5-9 and weighs 165 pounds, and is accomplished in the classroom with a GPA of 3.5.
“The very first time I ever put on football pads was my eighth grade year. I never realized what I had been missing,” said Boone.
“I was very fortunate to have some of the best football coaches who believed in me, taught me and pushed me to this game I have grown to love. Our new head football coach Aaron York is a great coach. He pushes us in every aspect.
“Two of his acronyms that are said on the daily are GATA which stands for Get after Them Academics and EAT which stands for Effort Attitude Toughness,” said Boone, who buys into both mindsets.
York hasn’t been with the Panthers for long, taking over at the end of spring, but it was easy for him to gain great appreciation for this young man.
“He can be a great football player in college or Baseball player he’s very good at both and a great kid,” York said.
Boone admits he prefers baseball.
“I have been playing baseball since wee ball. It is my favorite thing to play,” he said. “There is no better feeling than making that diving play or getting that clutch hit and having all your teammates high fiving and cheering you on. My head baseball coach Stuart Morgan has truly been a mentor, helping with the recruiting process, showcases and camps that I have attended.”
Morgan is also a football assistant so he’s got great perspective on this Buckeye standout.
“I have the pleasure coaching of Haidyn in two sports and he is a standout at both. He works as hard or harder than any athlete I have ever coached and he shows up with a positive attitude every day,” said Morgan. “Haidyn leads by example and elevates the level of play of his teammates through his work ethic and consistency. I am excited to watch Haidyn’s future unfold because no matter what he will be successful.”
Boone is focused on his senior season with the Panthers’ football squad, but does have eyes and ears open about his future.
“I have always dreamed of being able to play college sports,” he said. “Right now I have one visit set this fall, at Louisiana Christian in Pineville for baseball, which I am looking forward to. Football or baseball, I just want the opportunity to prove myself at the next level,” he said.
Tough, smart, talented, versatile … I have no doubt Boone will be playing somewhere next season. I just can’t say which sport he’ll play – or if it might be both.
Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com
Lee Brecheen has been covering high school football and recruiting in Louisiana since the early ‘90s. He is owner of Louisiana Football Magazine and can be followed on Twitter @LeeBrecheen. He hosts a YouTube show, The Sports Scouting Report with Lee Brecheen. Previews of all state high schools are available on lafootballmagazine.com.