New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Top recruit Bowen impressed by UConn
A few years ago, Taylor Bowen admits he was enamored by the Duke men’s basketball program. In particular, he loved watching Zion Williamson play.
Williamson, of course, is no longer at Duke. After this season, neither will Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski.
If Duke was ever Bowen’s “dream school,” that’s no longer the case. In fact, the 6-foot-9, Class of 2023 forward from Vermont hasn’t prioritized any of the many schools recruiting him at this point.
There’s no question, however, that UConn has prioritized Bowen. Bowen has visited the campus unofficially twice, most recently on Monday along with Simsbury’s Gavin Griffiths, and has liked what he’s seen and heard so far.
“They have really nice facilities, there’s a lot to like about it,” he told Hearst Connecticut Media on Tuesday. “I just enjoyed my visit there.”
Bowen, who scored 18 points at the XL Center a few weeks ago in the inaugural “Splash Day” event, said he talks to new UConn assistant coach Luke Murray more often than just about any other coach. His goal is to play in the NBA someday, and the coaching staff has preached to him that they can help him get there.
“They’ve said that they could grow my game tremendously and make me an NBA-type player, for sure,” Bowen said. “Come in there and work and get to it, more than anything. That’s what I’m looking for the most, a school that will put me to work and develop my game, because I know I have the intangibles and tools to get to where I want to. But it’s gonna come down to working to get what I want.”
Bowen was born in Egypt to South Sudanese refugees, and relocated at a young age to the small town of Jericho, Vermont. A couple of years ago, Bowen arrived at the bucolic, beachside campus of St. George’s in Newport, Rhode Island. St. George’s coach Wayne Pina, a former Boston College basketball player and assistant coach at Brown, learned about Bowen through T.J. Sorrentine, the former University of Vermont standout who’s still a Brown assistant.
In two years at St. George’s, Bowen said he grew “tremendously ... I would’t be the person I am today.”
“As a player, the sky’s the limit,” said Pina. “The kid has won the genetic lottery. He’s 6-9, he probably has a 7-foot-2 wingspan. But more importantly than just his measurables, he’s agile, he’s coordinated, he moves like someone who’s 6-foot-1. He’s got terrific timing, great hand-eye coordination. Really, really special in terms of his measurables.”
Add that all to an impressive skillset and Bowen is a five-star recruit and the No. 22 recruit in the nation, per 247Sports.com’s composite rankings.
“He’s a guy, at that size, who’s such a fluid, mobile athlete,” Pina continued. “He can dribble, pass and shoot really well. He’s a good decision-maker with the basketball, he’s a capable 3-point shooter, he’s a very good rebounder, he can lead a fast break, he’s unselfish, he’ll drop a dime to a teammate on the fast break. He can run the length of the court and dunk it.
“I do think, with his size, mobility and skillset, he’s a special talent.”
Bowen has attracted interest from other Big East schools like Marquette and Providence, as well as, Kentucky, Arkansas and Rutgers. An A-minus/Bplus student at St. George’s, he’ll likely start hearing from Ivy League schools soon, too.
But Bowen’s not ready to make a decision, or even narrow down his list of potential schools yet. Not yet. Not even close. He’s not even planning any more visits any time soon.
Bowen is ready to embark on a new journey this season at Brewster Academy, the high-level prep school in New Hampshire that boasts, among others, Donovan Mitchell, Devonte’ Graham and former UConn stars Jeff Adrien and Jalen Adams as alumni. He moves in on Sunday.
“Playing basketball at that high a level, under a coach like (Jason) Smith, I know I’m gonna get a lot better,” Bowen said.
UConn (and many others) will be keeping a very close eye.