Five-star prospect enrolls at South Carolina
Former five-star class of 2017 basketball prospect Brian Bowen has been admitted to South Carolina and has joined the Gamecocks basketball program this semester, according to a release from the school.
Bowen committed to and enrolled at Louisville in June of last year, but was suspended when his name came up in connection with the FBI's investigation into college basketball. Louisville did not seek reinstatement from the NCAA but did provide a full release for Bowen.
Bowen recently told Outside the Lines, according to a report from ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman, that he had no knowledge of an alleged payment from Adidas to his father to push him to Louisville, as the FBI contends.
A former McDonald's All-American at La Lumiere School in La Porte, Ind., Bowen will sit out two semesters per NCAA transfer rules while also seeking reinstatement from the NCAA.
Bowen's lawyer, Jason Setchen, also told Goodman that he fully expects his client to be reinstated by the NCAA after they hear his case.
South Carolina coach Frank Martin and athletics director Ray Tanner issued a statement Wednesday confirming the news.
"Brian is an exceptional young man and a basketball player with a very high IQ for the game," Martin said. "He brings a high-level skill set to the court and will make an immediate impact on our team with him joining us on the practice courts this week. He is a strong, athletic small forward, who can really shoot the ball and rebound.
"Brian deserves a fresh start and I would like to thank our University administration, President Pastides, our Board of Trustees and Ray Tanner for their hard work and guidance in helping Brian become a member of our Gamecock family."
"What better coach is there to help Brian grow as a student-athlete and more importantly as a young man than Frank Martin and his staff," Tanner added. "Over the coming months, we will work diligently with the NCAA through our compliance office to ensure that Brian is eligible for competition."
The 2017 Gatorade State Player of the Year in Indiana, Bowen averaged 21 points and seven rebounds per game during senior season as a consensus five-star prospect. The 6-foot-7, 195-pound wing was considered the No. 21 overall prospect in his class by Rivals.com.