2023 Recruiting: Why five-star forward Taylor Bowen could be New England’s next great basketball star

[HooperScooper]

Article from today's Boston Globe. I'm still not sure how hard UConn is recruiting him.

College coaches have noticed. Duke and Kentucky have expressed interest, Bowen said. Bowen made an official visit to UConn and holds offers from the Huskies, Providence College, Rutgers, Maryland, Iowa, LSU, and USC. He’s looking for a school that marries strong academics with an elite basketball program.

Why five-star forward Taylor Bowen could be New England’s next great basketball star

 

[Tampahusky]

I don’t see anything special with him, not a 5*. I rather stick with our players, Akok and Samson as they are in the same mold.

 

[husky429]

I don’t see anything special with him, not a 5*. I rather stick with our players, Akok and Samson as they are in the same mold.

He's one of, if not THE, best defender in his class. Good ballhandler for 6'9. Offensive skills are a work in progress.

You do realize Akok will either be gone or have 1 year left by the time Bowen would arrive, right? And Samson will be a junior? You don't really get to "stick with our players" forever .. they run out of eligibility.

 

[Mooch82]

I don’t see anything special with him, not a 5*. I rather stick with our players, Akok and Samson as they are in the same mold.

He’s class of 23. Akok will be gone by the time he’d be here and Samson would be a Junior.

 

[Tampahusky]

He’s class of 23. Akok will be gone by the time he’d be here and Samson would be a Junior.

I understand upperclassmen will be there but we already have guys signed I rather give my minutes to. Good length but nothing special. If we lose out oh well. You can always find another Bowen.

 

[Mooch82]

I understand upperclassmen will be there but we already have guys signed I rather give my minutes to. Good length but nothing special. If we lose out oh well. You can always find another Bowen.

That’s fine, but your original post said we didn’t need him bc of Akok and Johnson, not because of other guys signed.

 

[Rocktheworld]

That’s fine, but your original post said we didn’t need him bc of Akok and Johnson, not because of other guys signed.

I don’t think logicing with this guy will help much

 

[CTBasketball]

I’m not saying no to a Top 25 player.

 

[Tampahusky]

I’m not saying no to a Top 25 player.

Scott Hazleton ??

 

[Hey Adrien!]

I’m not saying no to a Top 25 player.

Especially when it's a local kid with good rapport with our other commits!

 

[HooperScooper]

Scott Hazleton ??

He wasn't a top 25 ranked recruit. Rated 43, 50, 45 and 56 by the major recruiting services at that time.

RSCIhoops - 2000 Final

2000 Final

sites.google.com

 

[Tampahusky]

He wasn't a top 25 ranked recruit. Rated 43, 50, 45 and 56 by the major recruiting services at that time.

RSCIhoops - 2000 Final

2000 Final

sites.google.com

McDonald’s All American is not bad at all. I don’t go by rankings, just the eye test. He’s an ok player not a 5*. He has length. I like ball players like Karaban and Floyd Jr…..when it comes down to it he probably won’t go to UConn so who cares.

 

[7774]

McDonald’s All American is not bad at all

Even 20 years ago everyone on this board knew he got that because of politics.

 

[HooperScooper]

Even 20 years ago everyone on this board knew he got that because of politics.

Same reason Neil Fingleton was in the game. They wanted a couple local kids in the game in Boston and those 2 were the highest ranked from the area.

 

[Tampahusky]

Same reason Neil Fingleton was in the game. They wanted a couple local kids in the game in Boston and those 2 were the highest ranked from the area.

Reason why I don’t go by awards or rankings.

 

[HooperScooper]

McDonald’s All American is not bad at all. I don’t go by rankings, just the eye test. He’s an ok player not a 5*. He has length. I like ball players like Karaban and Floyd Jr…..when it comes down to it he probably won’t go to UConn so who cares.

I'm not going to argue whether he's fairly ranked or not but I'm curious where and how much you've seen him play.

 

[Tampahusky]

I'm not going to argue whether he's fairly ranked or not but I'm curious where and how much you've seen him play.

Like everyone I see clips… I can be wrong like I have been in the past or right. 5* I do not see. Same goes for Karaban , he’s a baller I’m glad we picked him up although he’s not highly ranked.

 

[HooperScooper]

Like everyone I see clips… I can be wrong like I have been in the past or right. 5* I do not see. Same goes for Karaban , he’s a baller I’m glad we picked him up although he’s not highly ranked.

Are you Kevin Ollie? Lol

 

[Samoo]

Like everyone I see clips… I can be wrong like I have been in the past or right. 5* I do not see. Same goes for Karaban , he’s a baller I’m glad we picked him up although he’s not highly ranked.

Except for the members that watch full game tapes - or god forbid - actually attend games and watch recruits in person...

 

[Windsorlocks]

Class of '23 Taylor Bol Bowen updates recruitment as Duke, Kentucky, Kansas watch him at National Prep Showcase | Zagsblog

By ADAM ZAGORIA NEW HAVEN, Conn. — […]

www.zagsblog.com

 

[Tampahusky]

Except for the members that watch full game tapes - or god forbid - actually attend games and watch recruits in person...

Information doesn’t always equal intelligence. It took 5 minutes for Jerry West to know Kobe was special and shut down workouts.

 

[TheChamps990411]

One of the more odd takes ive seen here in quite a while.

 

[husky429]

Like everyone I see clips… I can be wrong like I have been in the past or right. 5* I do not see. Same goes for Karaban , he’s a baller I’m glad we picked him up although he’s not highly ranked.

I've watched him play in multiple full games. He's probably a little over ranked but not by much. I'd put him around 40-50 until he improves his shooting.

 

[husky99]

Information doesn’t always equal intelligence. It took 5 minutes for Jerry West to know Kobe was special and shut down workouts.

Not many jerry west's on this board

 

[uconngb]

Not many jerry west's on this board

Also didn’t take a genius to know Kobe was gonna be pretty good