At the beginning of each new year, Phenom Hoops works to assemble a series of articles centered around unsigned senior prospects. Last season, hundreds of players from North Carolina went on to play at the Division I, II, III or NAIA levels, and that number looks likely to continue increasing with the current senior class. Typically, we take a closer look at guys who are overlooked and underrated, and today's edition will highlight Brock Bowen of Weddington and CC Elite.
We've seen Bowen in every possible setting, including with CC Warriors, where we stated, 'There are a lot of quality shooters in North Carolina, and Brock Bowen certainly has to be considered among the best. Few players are able to thrive and maximize their abilities within a low-maintenance role as well as Bowen. He moves so well without the ball and appears disarming enough for opposing defenses to direct their attention elsewhere, which allows him to regularly torch the nets off the catch. Bowen has picturesque mechanics and displays a quick, fluid release. That being said, he's more than just a spot-up threat. Bowen is a capable defender and passer with some useful off-the-bounce ability. He understands and embraces his identity as a knockdown shooter, but also understands how to keep the opposition on their toes and mix it up when necessary. Bowen can carve out a role with any collection of teammates and should ultimately have next-level suitors as a result.' Which was recently followed by, 'Although he's already well-established as one of the premier three-point shooters in North Carolina, Brock Bowen decided to showcase the full arsenal over the weekend. He offered his usual amount of pressure from beyond the arc, but also highlighted the ability to actually run a team as the primary ball-handler. Bowen created for himself and others in transition and the half-court, regularly displaying IQ and unselfishness as a playmaker. He made his presence felt defensively and consistently battled for rebounds. Between everything he did this weekend and his aforementioned elite perimeter shooting, Bowen should be able to advance to the next level.'
The value and overall appeal of Bowen should be pretty apparent at this point, specifically in an era where three-point shooting is at an all-time high. He moves extremely well without the ball, sets up with precision and dexterity, and knocks down shots at an incredibly high clip. After winning the state championship, Weddington received a ton of warranted praise. That being said, Bowen still felt widely underrecognized within the bigger scheme of things. He was the Warriors' third-leading scorer and top three-point shooter (based on percentage), and provided somewhat ridiculous 54/50/81 shooting splits. After showcasing even more of his abilities, Bowen should have more suitors at the college level. Only time will tell, but he should be a valuable piece wherever he ends up.
