The college basketball world received a huge shock Wednesday afternoon with the news that former Louisville freshman and consensus five-star prospect Brian Bowen had enrolled at South Carolina.
How Bowen arrived in Columbia is unique, but all of that aside, what are the Gamecocks getting in the 6-foot-7, 195-pounder? Here are some thoughts from various sources plus highlight videos below.
South Carolina head coach Frank Martin: "Brian is an exceptional young man and a basketball player with a very high IQ for the game. 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."
Phenom Hoop Report National Analyst Jamie Shaw (@JamieShaw5): "Bowen is a big time scorer. He has great size and the ability to go out and score in bunches from all over the floor. A consensus 5-star recruit, Bowen performed at the highest level throughout high school, with big numbers on the biggest stages. Bowen's uncle is former NBA star Jason Richardson, so the bloodlines are clearly there. A major prospect."
Rivals.com National Basketball Analyst Corey Evans (@CoreyEvans_10): "Throwing out all of the potential ramifications of the allegations off the floor, Brian Bowen is an impressive offensive weapon that should thrive at South Carolina. Known for his ability to put the ball in the basket, Bowen was the catalyst for his La Lumiere team winning a national high school title. He can score from all three levels but is at his best off of the mid range pull-up. He is a decent athlete but can develop into a versatile defender that, under the tutelage of Frank Martin and his staff, become a major cog within their system enabling for more damage to be done in March."
Rivals.com National Basketball Analyst Eric Bossi (@ebosshoops): "Bowen is an offensive minded wing with tremendous size and a pretty high skill level. He’s kind of a streaky shooter and not an overwhelming athlete but his feel on the offensive end is high level. Because of his size, he can also be used as a floor stretching four man in a small ball lineup."
Bowen's ESPN.com scouting report: "Bowen is a big and skilled wing who is full of upside. ... He has become a somewhat prolific scoring from all three levels on the floor. From a results standpoint he is extremely effective and efficient from the catch and shoot three point shot an dwell as the one dribble pull-up. He can put the ball on the floor going in either direction with outstanding perimeter footwork, and is a virtually ambidextrous scorer inside the paint with his floater game. His shooting stroke has made considerable progress when he is able to set his feet and fire with room and rhythm and will even take smaller defenders to the low post. His length gives him a definite weapon on the defensive end of the floor."
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