By SEAN BOCK
South Carolina freshman Brian Bowen will declare for the NBA Draft in case the NCAA does not clear him to play next season for the Gamecocks, he told ESPN.
Bowen will not sign with an agent at this time so he can sustain his NCAA eligibility.
“I just felt that it was the right decision,” Bowen told ESPN. “My goal is still to play college basketball, but I felt as though it makes sense to cover my bases.”
Bowen was admitted to South Carolina in January after he transferred from Louisville when the news came out that his family was involved in the FBI probe into college basketball corruption.
“This is a mature move from Brian,” Bowen’s lawyer, Jason Setchen said. “We’re hopeful and have faith that the NCAA will make the right decision and allow Brian to play next season for South Carolina, but he’ll also have the opportunity to be drafted if that doesn’t happen.”
A five-star recruit coming out of high school, Bowen was a McDonald’s All-American and regarded as one of the best pure scorers in the 2017 class.
Photo: New York Times
