Neil Mosser. "It was Coach Mosser who helped me get a basketball scholarship to Idaho State." Boone reflected later, "I was accepted sight unseen and now, 30 years later, Claude Retherford is still one of my best friends. He visits me in Salt Lake City every spring and I teach his basketball camp every summer." In 1966–1967, Idaho State finished the season with a record of 10–15, with Boone averaging 22.3 points and 5.1 rebounds. As a senior in 1967–1968, Boone averaged 21.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists as Idaho State finished the season with a record of 10–12, playing under new Coach Danny Miller. In his three seasons with Idaho State University, Boone averaged 20.0 points and 5.4 rebounds in 61 games, never missing a game. Boone was named to the First–team All-Big Sky teams in both 1967 and 1968. ABA/NBA career After graduating from Idaho State University, Boone was selected by both the American Basketball Association's Dallas Chaparrals in the 1968 ABA draft and by the Phoenix Suns in the 1968 NBA draft. Boone opted to play for Dallas in the ABA. Of his choice to play in the ABA, Boone said: "I chose the ABA because my college coach said it was a young league and I’d probably have a better chance of making professional basketball there. I felt that by going to the ABA I probably had a shot. I still had to prove myself. At the time Cliff Hagan, who is a legend, was the coach for the Chaparrals. We had to play two-on-two and he would always play. I remember hearing about this hook shot that he had that was awesome, left and right, and during that time I blocked his hook shot a couple of times. I really think, even today, that’s the reason I ended up making the team." Dallas Chaparrals 1968–1971 Boone played two seasons with the Dallas Chaparrals (today's San Antonio Spurs) from 1968 to 1971. As a rookie in 1968–1969, Boone averaged 18.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists under Coach Cliff Hagan. Dallas finished 41–37, losing to the New Orleans Buccaneers 4 games to 3 in the ABA Playoffs. Boone made the ABA All-Rookie First Team. Boone averaged 17.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 201 games with the Dallas Chaparrals. Utah Stars 1971–1975 Boone was traded to the Utah Stars from Dallas in mid-season 1970,