5-foot-8 Siow a giant winner
Ex-Lowell High star leading sixth-ranked Keene State
Nate Siow continues to showcase his tough-as-nails mentality on the court.
The Lowell resident and former Lowell High star is leading the way for the sixth-ranked Keene State men’s basketball team. The Owls were off to a sensational 21-1 start, with the postseason already within view, entering Wednesday’s game against UMass Dartmouth.
The starting point guard the past three seasons, Siow has been a steady offensive contributor, doing whatever it takes to help his team succeed.
“Everyone on this team just wants to win,” said Siow, 21. “We had a bitter taste last year losing our second game in the NCAA (Tournament). We just wanted to come in this season and focus on the little things to be successful here.”
A 5-foot-8, 165-pound junior, Siow has been a key cog in the Owls’ attack. In 22 games entering Wednesday, he was averaging 7.1 points, 9.0 assists and 7.1 steals. The sports management major netted a season-high 18 points in the squad’s lone loss, an 86-82 setback to No. 11 Middlebury. He leads the team in assists and steals.
“Coming into this year, our focus was to get one percent better every day from practices to games,” said Siow. “Obviously, we want to win it all, but we continue to get better each day, building on that foundation. Our goal is to win a national championship. I think we’re on the verge of doing it.”
Born in Ghana, West Africa, Siow headed to the U.S. at age 4 with his mother. After two years in Arizona, the family moved to the Bay State, settling in Lowell.
“I’ve been there ever since,” said Siow. “I consider Lowell my hometown, for sure.”
He brought his love of basketball with him, a sport he picked up at the age of 5, after his uncle introduced him to it at the local YMCA.
Siow took his hoop talents to Lowell High School (2016-20), quickly establishing himself as a toptier talent. The four-year letterman became the most recent member of the LHS 1,000-point club. He is ranked sixth all-time among Lowell High scoring leaders with 1,030 points, an elite group that includes former teammates Alex Rivera (1,587, ’18) and Carlos Nunez, Jr. (1,303, ’20).
“Everyone I played with at Lowell High from freshman to senior year are like brothers to me,” said Siow. “I still talk to them to this day. We all grew up together and went through a lot. I have so much respect for everyone in that city.”
Since arriving on the Keene State campus, Siow has certainly earned his keep. He started all nine games for the Owls in a COVID-shortened freshman year, averaging 11.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.
As a sophomore, Siow appeared in 28 games for the Owls, making 26 starts. He averaged 10.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game, including scoring a career-high 22 points against Southern Maine.
“Any time I stepped on the basketball court, it wasn’t necessarily about how many points I could score, I just wanted to win,” said Siow. “I just wanted to play as hard as I can. I don’t care about the accolades, that comes with the team’s success. I’m just focused on winning.”
“Nate in a lot of ways is the heart of our team,” said Keene State head coach Ryan Cain. “He starts our defense with his ball pressure. The energy and effort he plays with defensively is contagious for the rest of our team. He also starts our offense and allows us to play at a pace that is unique, so he is a huge reason why we are in the top 10 in the country in points per game.”
And while most players are transfixed on posting gaudy offensive numbers, Siow seems to be the exception.
“He is the most unselfish player I’ve ever coached,” said Cain. “He legitimately would rather pass to teammates than score himself. He is truly a team-first player and person.”
Entering Wednesday Keene State had three regular season games left. With one win the Owls will clinch the No. 1 seed in the Little East Conference. Two wins would earn them the Little East Conference regular championship. That would also earn them a bye in the Little East Conference Tournament, while hosting a semifinal game on Thursday, Feb. 23. From there anything is possible, including a spot in the NCAA Division 3 Tournament beginning March 3.
“We’re looking pretty good,” said Siow. “Starting the second semester, we were winning but struggling to find out identity. Now we’re starting to play our best basketball of the season. I don’t think anyone can beat us if we put all our trust in one another as a team. We created a real brotherhood here.”