Top-30 prospect Taylor Bowen talks official visits, recruitment
While Taylor Bowen has been focused on improving and sharpening his game, the 6-foot-9 wing now says it’s time to focus a bit more on the recruiting process.
“I’m ready to take that next step in my recruitment,” Bowen says. “I’ve been focusing on getting better, adding more stuff to my game down low, as well as trying to get more of a mid-post game.
“I think the next step for me is taking official visits. I’ve talked to a few schools like LSU, Kansas, and Virginia Tech. I’m still working on setting those up.”
Despite having 20+ scholarship offers, Bowen isn’t ready to cut his list down just yet. He says his recruitment is still fully open, and his focus is currently on taking visits.
“My recruitment is wide open. I wouldn’t say there is one school on me more than the others. I’m 100% wide open.
“I haven’t really thought too much about a cut list. I just can’t skip any steps. Right now, my priority is taking visits. After I take official visits, then I’ll cut down the list. I think there is a process to everything.”
Pro Insight’s Andrew Slater recently reported Florida State will get Bowen’s first official visit, however, a date is still in the works. Kentucky has also been showing interest in Bowen.
Bowen is originally from Vermont but now attends Brewster (N.H.) Academy. During the summer he runs with Expressions Elite (Mass.) where he’s leading his team in points, rebounds, and blocks. So far this summer, he’s averaging 16.6 points on 58% from the field, 7.8 rebounds, and nearly two blocks a game.
The On3 Consensus – a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies – ranks Bowen as the No. 27 overall prospect in the country, and the No. 6 ranked small forward.
Providence and UConn, the local schools
So far, Bowen has only visited two programs, unofficials to Providence and UConn.
Providence: “I think being at a Big East school and being almost home…Providence is like a second home to me. Corey (Wright) has been working me out since I was 14-15 when I first came out to Expressions. He let me stay with him and work out at Providence. That’s been huge in my development. So just working out there in the summers, it’s been like a second home to me.”
Corey Wright’s father played at Providence in the late 1990s.
UConn: “The coaching staff is really good. Coach Hurley is a blue-collar coach. He’s going to get in you and that’s what I need. I need a player’s coach or a coach that’s going to be very much on me to get better. That’s ultimately how you get better, by not taking any shortcuts and continuing to improve.”
Timetable?
While Bowen has not locked in any official visits just yet, he does know when he’d like to announce a decision.
“I know one thing for sure in terms of my timetable and that is I want to commit after this AAU season,” Bowen says. “Even maybe before Peach Jam, just around that time. I think after this AAU season, I’ll have a really good idea of where I want to go. So during my senior year, I can strictly focus on getting ready for college. There are so many transfers coming in so I have to make sure I get my body and everything ready.”
Bowen Scouting Summary
Taylor Bol Bowen is an elite-level defender. That is his calling card at this point, the length and the ability to move his feet and switch down to guard on the block. At 6-foot-9, he has natural timing both in the passing lanes and as a weakside shot blocker. Offensively, he is still raw. There are flashes, like with the catch and shoot three, but there is still a lot of inconsistency with thinking and not reacting in-game. Bol Bowen has a world of upside; the frame and the defensive instincts have NBA potential, the offensive portion of his game is coming around. – On3’s Jamie Shaw, National Recruiting Analyst