"Guard"ing the Tradition

At Boston College, the long, celebrated tradition of guards exists among its basketball fans and followers. It's a rich part of the past, with names dating back to John Bagley, Michael Adams, Dana Barros, Howard Eisley, and Troy Bell. But it's also run through the present, with players like Reggie Jackson, Tyrese Rice, and Olivier Hanlan dotting more recent seasons.

Enjoying a breakout freshman season, Ky Bowman is now poised to add his name to that list. Just 16 games into his rookie year, he's already a two-time ACC Rookie of the Week, and he's fast become one of the most noteworthy players on a team in the nation's best conference.

Bowman's path to Boston College came from an unlikely split. A Havelock, North Carolina native, he originally chose to attend college in his home state as a football player, committing to UNC in 2014 as a wide receiver after fielding offers from other power conference schools. But he drew heavy interest from basketball schools during his senior season at Havelock High School in which he averaged over 23 points per game and just under nine rebounds.

That led to a new recruiting process, one that split Bowman from his football roots and led him to the hardwoods at Boston College. Bowman separated himself by mixing his ball-handling skills with a high basketball IQ and above-average vision of the floor.

But he struggled to adjust to the college game at the start of the season. In the Eagles' first nine games, he had double-digit scoring just once while foul trouble limited minutes in a handful of games. Against Harvard, he was limited to just nine minutes with zero points.

"He's played unbelievably well (since Auburn)," head coach Jim Christian said, "but that's the way he practiced. For the whole preseason, from the day he got here this summer all the way through the start of the season, that's how he practiced. But he just wasn't performing the way we knew he could. So we had a conversation before the Auburn game where we sat down and said, 'You're going to be my guy.' It's a lot like in football where we say that we're going to ride you and teach you and get you better to make you learn."

That set up his first breakout performance against those Tigers. Playing at Madison Square Garden, Bowman logged 32 minutes and 15 points, shooting 5-10 from the floor, including 3-5 from the beyond the arc. It was a spark plug, the first glimpse into potential as part of a 72-71 victory over the Tigers. In the six games since, he's continued to develop, playing less than 30 minutes only once while establishing himself as the catalyst for the BC offense.

"I really stopped looking for the big plays and started looking to just make the simple plays," Bowman said. "Any time I start to feel any pressure, I know that there's a play to make with a teammate, and they are always there to have my back.

"During the Auburn game, I felt like I was really able to be a leader," he continued, "and I was really able to help keep the team together as one and help us become better in any way I can. Before games, I know I can just bring the energy and get everyone motivated."

Nine days after Auburn, Bowman played 39 of the game's 40 minutes against Fairfield, scoring 33 points on 13-21 shooting and 6-7 from the free throw line. A week after that, he scored 30 again, this time in BC's conference opener against Syracuse, in a performance that included seven three-pointers. Both performances earned him ACC Rookie of the Week recognition, with the latter leading the Eagles to a dominant conference victory in their league opening game.

"We really let him learn by letting him play through different situations," Christian said. "Every situation is new to him - the first league game, the first road game, everything."

For Bowman, the next step is to continue a development that's seen him already take on some of the nation's elite backcourts. Having now returned to where it all began, with road games on Tobacco Road, the Eagles will return home on Wednesday for the first late game of the season. They'll play NC State at Conte Forum with a 9 p.m. tip-off, followed by his first taste of a return match at Syracuse at 4 p.m. on Saturday. It's something the coaching staff is prepared to hand him the ball for, especially since they know his makeup will be a part of their success.

"He's got such a good mentality," Christian said. "Against Fairfield, he had 33 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, which was a great game. But when we were walking on the bus, he looked at me and said, 'Coach, my defense needs to be better.' That's why he's going to be a huge, huge piece of our team moving forward and for years to come."

Players Mentioned

Ky Bowman

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