By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

There was a time not so long ago that James Boone thought he might reach fame as an NBA sharpshooter.

Instead, Boone concentrated on football, and after four seasons under Coach Mark Jackson at St. Cloud High, that proved to be a good decision.

Wednesday, on National Signing Day, Boone followed through on his oral commitment to Colorado State University in a signing ceremony at the school’s media center.

“There are like 10 of us from Central Florida who are going there. I’ve talked to guys there, and it’s going to be good,” Boone said.

As the county’s all-time leading receiver, Boone helped the Bulldogs win the 2008 district championship and again reach the playoffs as a district runner-up last season.

Boone set the county record with 1,228 receiving yards in 2008. Last season, Boone had 58 catches for 1,003 yards and eight touchdowns despite being the focus of opposing defenses.

“I don’t know if I could have handled that a couple of years ago, but you get bigger and stronger,” he said. “You learn to deal with it.”

Boone also rushed for 540 yards, usually from the Wildcat formation.

Coach Jackson’s voice cracked with emotion as he spoke of coaching Boone for four seasons.

“I love him like he’s my own son,” Jackson said. “Now, we had some visits to my office, where we had to straighten things out now and then, but he’s always been a great person and I’ve loved coaching him.”

Boone (5-10, 180) displayed 4.3 speed to separate from defenders.

“The coaches (at Colorado State) think he can play next year,” Jackson said.

Boone’s mother, Alexis Camacho, would prefer that her son have stayed closer to home, but she is excited for his future.

“I did my research. It’s a real good school for him,” she said. “We talked with Coach Jackson and he had a lot to do with the decision.”

Boone’s stepfather, Jermaine Lewis, steered Boone toward football.

“Yeah, I was sure I was going to the NBA, but he (Lewis) decided I should do this (football),” Boone said. “I guess that worked out OK.”

Boone is the leading scorer for the Bulldogs basketball team, which plays at the district tournament at Poinciana next week. He will join the track team after the season is over.

Boone plans to study criminal justice or business management at Colorado State, which competes in the Mountain West Conference.

Former Osceola High defensive back Momo Thomas is among many Central Floridians on the Rams’ roster. Thomas started as a freshman defensive back.

The Rams, under Coach Steve Fairchild, started the 2009 season 3-0 before losing their last nine games.

Boone is the second Bulldog in as many years to sign a Division I scholarship to a Football Bowl Subdivision school. Fellow receiver Donnie Jennert signed on at Iowa State last year.