Bostic Invited to Pistons Training Camp

Former UF men's basketball standout Josh Bostic (2006-09) has been invited to take part in the Detroit Pistons training camp with the hopes of fulfilling his lifelong dream of playing in the NBA.  The 2009 NCAA Division II National Player of the Year recently had a private workout at the Pistons practice facility and was offered a chance to compete for a roster spot in training camp shortly after.

"When I was told the news, I immediately thanked God," said Bostic. "I know all of this was possible through Christ Jesus' favor and grace."

Bostic led the Oilers to a perfect 36-0 record in his final season with the Oilers en route to the 2009 NCAA Division II National Championship.  He was also tabbed the 2009 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Player of the Year, the 2009 NCAA Division II Midwest Region Player of the Year and was voted the Most Outstanding Player of the 2009 NCAA Division II National Tournament.

"Josh really took our program to a different level," said head coach Charlie Ernst. "He came to practice each and every day with the mindset to get better, which tells you a little bit about his personality and work ethic."

The 6'5 guard/forward came to the Oilers as part of a recruiting class that ended their careers with a combined record of 118-12, the best four-year run in school history. The group won three GLIAC South Division championships, two GLIAC Tournament titles and ended up with a 69-1 record at home.

"My time at Findlay helped prepare me for life in many different ways," said Bostic. "I came in with the mindset that I was above anything a small town NCAA Division II university could offer, but I quickly realized the Findlay community was much more than I expected. Their support for student-athletes was unprecedented and we could not have won a NCAA Division II National Championship without them."

During his sophomore year in 2006-07, the Oilers were the 3rd-ranked team in the nation. They earned the right to host the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional, but were upset in the second round by Northern Kentucky University. The loss was the only time Bostic suffered a defeat within the friendly confines of Croy Gymnasium.

"We had a really good team my sophomore year," said Bostic. "We finished the year with a 29-2 record and were good enough to win the championship. The loss at home pained everyone and made us more determined to get better each and every day."

Heading into his junior season during the 2007-08 campaign, Bostic was the unquestioned leader of the Oilers basketball team. The season started off with a bang when they knocked off The Ohio State University by a score of 70-68 in an exhibition game, which brought the program national attention. The Oilers then carried over the momentum during the season, which catapulted them to an appearance in the NCAA Division II Sweet 16 where they lost to Grand Valley State University.

In his senior season, Bostic and the Oilers began the year as the top-ranked team in the nation and never relinquished their stranglehold as the premier team in all of NCAA Division II men's basketball. Their 36-0 record at the end of the season set a NCAA Division II record for most wins by an undefeated team. They won three out of their last four games in the NCAA Tournament in overtime and their last second win on a three pointer by Tyler Evans in the championship game will forever go down as one of the top highlights in NCAA Division II basketball history.

"We had pressure to perform well during our senior season," said Bostic. "As players we knew of the hype surrounding our team, but coach Niekamp always told us that if we started believing in our hype, we would fail.  Our coaches always made us believe that we had something to prove every single day. They kept us level-headed, which allowed us to constantly play at a high level."

A two-time NCAA Division II All-American, Bostic ranks ninth all-time at UF with 1,705 career points. During his tenure with the Oilers, Bostic averaged 13.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.9 steals per game. He has also stayed in close contact with the program since leaving Findlay, which has benefited past and current players.

"I have always been impressed with his loyalty as he takes pride in where he came from," said Ernst. "Josh is a Findlay guy. He routinely comes back to see our players and takes time out of his busy schedule to talk to them about what they need to do to be successful. He has also called me on the eve of the NCAA Tournament in each of the past three years to wish us luck."

Since his time at Findlay, the Columbus, Ohio native has played professionally in Japan, Belgium, France and Russia. Bostic also spent time in the NBA Development League, playing with the New Mexico Thunderbirds during the 2010-11 campaign where he averaged 12.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.

"Since leaving Findlay my experiences have been blessed to say the least," said Bostic. "I have been fortunate enough to play professionally and by doing so, I have learned that hard work really does pay off. It has literally helped me in every aspect of my professional career."

Bostic will now prepare to take the next step in his professional career, one that is not easy for a NCAA Division II player to make. Since 2000, there have only been 15 players from the NCAA Division II ranks to participate in a NBA regular season contest.

"In order to make the Pistons roster, I need to be the hardest working guy they see," said Bostic.  "I need to do all the little things that help build a winning environment.  Thanks to my experiences at Findlay, these concepts are easy to transition into."

The Pistons finished last season with a 29-53 record and will be entering a new era during the 2014-15 campaign under the guidance of head coach Stan Van Gundy, who was hired on May 14 to run the team.  Van Gundy has a career record of 371-208 in eight previous years with the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic. His 2008-09 Magic team reached the NBA Finals, the same year Bostic led the Oilers to the NCAA Division II National Championship.

"Josh will be a welcomed addition to the Pistons training camp," said Ernst. "If they want players to improve their practice environment and make guys better, Josh will fit right in.  I have no doubt that he will represent our program and all of NCAA Division II men's basketball to the highest level."

Bostic will report to camp on Sep. 28. The Pistons first exhibition game this season is scheduled for Oct. 7 at home against the Chicago Bulls. The game is set to tip at 7:30 p.m.