During the final month of the 2015-16 high school season Kyran Bowman's basketball recruitment exploded. The likes of South Carolina, California, Boston College, Memphis, and Cincinnati all offered him after February and he committed to the ACC's Boston College in March.
This season he is the ACC's third overall leading freshman scorer, behind Georgia Tech's Josh Okogie and NC State's Dennis Smith, at 14.1 points per game. He is the ACC's fourth overall leading freshman rebounder, behind Georgia Tech's Josh Okogie, Florida State's Jonathan Issac, and Miami's Bruce Brown, at 4.7 rebounds per game.
So why did Kyran Bowman fall so far under the radar'
Havlock High School is known primarily for football, they currently have 4 players in the NFL and many others who have come from the program to go on to Division 1 programs. Bowman was a lot of the same as he committed to the University of North Carolina as a sophomore.
The 3A program located in the eastern most part of rural North Carolina had a storied high school career. As a 4 year starter he won 71% of his high school games, compiling a 77-31 overall record. Through those 108 total games, he had career averages of 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.3 steals per game.
Despite his incredible basketball career, Bowman was a noted high major football wide receiver who played at a predominately football high school. Many coaches wrote him off as a football prospect. But, since his decommitment from North Carolina, Bowman adamantly stated otherwise.
On the basketball court Bowman plays with a non-stop high motor and with crazy explosion. He is one of only 3 freshman in the country to record three 30 point games. The two he is joining are consensus projected Top 5 NBA draft picks Dennis Smith (NC State) and Markelle Fultz (Washington).
The likes of ESPN's Jeff Goodman and CBS's Seth Davis have raved about Kyran Bowman all season. After his late addition to the prestigious 2015 North Carolina Top 80 event, National Analyst Rick Lewis wrote, 'Bowman was the surprise player of the day, the late addition has explosion and a college ready frame. He is a player to watch now.'
Once Boston College came in and offered Phenom Hoops received multiple phone calls daily about Bowman. Programs from around the country took notice, and they were all making the trip down to see him. As we mentioned above, the likes of South Carolina, California, Tulsa, Boston College, Missouri, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Georgia, and many others called us regularly about the young man. Each time a new team would come out to watch him, they loved him. Some of these schools liked the sound of him so much they offered without making the trip.
What stuck out the most, and it still does to this day, is his competitiveness. He plays with a huge chip on his shoulder. When you couple that with his explosion and strength, a lot of people just do not have the means to keep up with that style, even in the ACC. Bowman has been named ACC freshman of the week twice already this season. Note that the ACC has 3 freshman who are slated to be chosen as one and done lottery picks in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Kyran Bowman was uncovered late in his high school career and overlooked by many schools in his region. However, the ultimate competitor is averaging 14.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game while starting every game he has played in as a freshman in the ACC.
A lot of times it's all in the intangibles, but when you are looking at late bloomers and late signees, always take production over projection. Whatever you do, don't be scared of late bloomers, especially the ones from the Hoop State!!
