Laurence Bowers

Laurence Bowers
No. 21 – Orlandina Basket
Position Power forward
League Serie A
Personal information
Born (1990-04-19) April 19, 1990
Memphis, Tennessee
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight 227 lb (103 kg)
Career information
High school Elliston Baptist (Memphis, Tennessee)
St. George's (Collierville, Tennessee)
College Missouri (2008–2013)
NBA draft 2013 / Undrafted
Playing career 2013–present
Career history
2013–2014 Hapoel Holon
2015–present Orlandina Basket
Career highlights and awards
  • Israeli League Rookie of the Year (2014)
  • Second-team All-SEC (2013)
  • Big 12 All-Defensive Team (2011)
  • All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (2011)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Laurence Rochelle Bowers (born April 19, 1990) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for Orlandina Basket of the Italian Serie A. He played college basketball at Missouri.

Early years

A Memphis native, Bowers was born to Laurence Young and Nancy Bowers. His uncle, Arlyn Bowers, was a key member of the 1989–90 Arkansas Razorbacks team that reached the Final Four of the 1990 NCAA Tournament.[1]

Bowers initially attended Elliston Baptist Academy in Memphis as a freshman and sophomore, earning all-state honors both years in both basketball and baseball (as a pitcher). He then transferred to St. George's Independent School in nearby Collierville, where, as a senior, he led the basketball team to a 25-3 record and the Tennessee Division II State semi-finals while averaging 19.8 points, 12.4 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game. In addition to being named all-state for the fourth straight year, he was a finalist for the Div. II Tennessee Mr. Basketball award (won by teammate Elliot Williams)[2] and was a nominee for the McDonald's All-American Game. Considered a three-star recruit by Rivals.com,[3] Bowers received scholarship offers from Arkansas, Marquette, George Mason, New Mexico and UTEP, ultimately committing to play for Mike Anderson and the Missouri Tigers.

College career

Bowers played with Mizzou from 2008–2013, finishing as the second all-time leader in blocked shots. Missouri reached the NCAA Tournament all five years. Along with Marcus Denmon, Kim English, and Steve Moore, he was part of the senior class that won 107 games, more than any other class in Mizzou basketball history.[4] In May 2012, he completed his undergraduate degree in sociology,[5] and later became the first ever Mizzou scholarship basketball player to get a master's degree, majoring in health education & promotion.[6]

Freshman and sophomore seasons

Bowers did not play much his freshman season, avergaing 3.2 points and 2.1 rebounds in just under 7 minutes per game as a backup to seniors DeMarre Carroll and Leo Lyons. He did, however, score a season-high 16 points against Colorado on January 14, 2009, and scored another 16 points in just 15 minutes on 7-9 shooting in a February 25 home win against Kansas State. The Tigers won a school-record 31 games, won the Big 12 Tournament and reached the Elite Eight of the 2012 NCAA Tournament. Bowers later said of his freshman year: "...it was the greatest feeling ever as far as my basketball career."[7]

The following year, he played in 34 games, finishing third on the team in scoring (10.2 ppg) and second in rebounding (5.7 rpg).[8] For his production off the bench, he was named to the Big 12 All-Reserve Team.[9]

Junior season

His junior season was Bower's breakout year; he started 27 games, averaging 11.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. He was named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team and honorable mention All-Big 12.[10] In addition to leading the team in rebounding, his 62 blocked shots was good for second in the Big 12 and the third most in school history. He also tied the school record by blocking eight shots against Colorado on January 8, 2011. At the conclusion of the season, he and Kim English both declared for the 2011 NBA draft. However, a month later, they both announced that they would be returning to Mizzou for their senior season. They cited the looming lockout as their reason.[11]

Senior season

Before his senior season, Bowers suffered a season-ending injury in early October 2011 when tore his ACL in his left knee during pre-season workouts.[12][13] Forced to red-shirt his senior year, he continued traveling with the team, and earned Academic All-Big 12 honors for his work in the classroom.[14] Although the Tigers finished 2nd in the SEC and won the Big 12 Tournament, they were defeated in the first round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament by 15-seed Norfolk State.

In his final season, Bowers averaged 14.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game, earning second team all-SEC honors and the team MVP award. He did not participate in Missouri's Summer European Exhibition Tour in August, instead returning during the normal exhibition pre-season games at home.[15] He wore a left knee brace for the first 14 games to protect his repaired knee,[6] and suffered an injury scare in January 2013 when he sprained his right MCL in a game against Alabama.[16] He missed five games, and played with yet another knee brace (now on his right knee) for the remaining 14 games.[6] However, for the third straight year, his Tigers were eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament; Missouri was defeated 72-84 by Colorado State in Bower's final collegiate game. He played 31 minutes and scored seven points.

Professional career

In preparation for the 2013 NBA draft, Bowers moved to Bradenton, Florida to train at the IMG Academy, sharing a room with future NBA player and fellow Memphis native Adonis Thomas.[6] He participated in pre-draft workouts with the Washington Wizards,[17] but was not able to play in the Portsmouth Invitational due to a wrist injury.[18] Bowers ultimately went undrafted. He later signed a Summer League contract with the Memphis Grizzlies.[19][20] In six games, Bowers averaged 4.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per game, but was waived before the start of the season.

Hapoel Holon

After being unsuccessful in securing another NBA contract, Bowers signed a one-year deal with Israeli club Hapoel Holon in July 2013.[21] He played in 31 games, and helped Hapoel Holon reach the postseason while averaging 12.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists per contest. At the conclusion of the year, Bowers was named the league Rookie of the Year.[18][22] In the offseason, he returned to Columbia, Missouri to volunteer at youth summer basketball camps, similar to what he did after he tore his ACL in 2011.[18][23] He also underwent wrist surgery for the injury he suffered during his sophomore year of college. In December 2014, after only seven games back with Hapoel Holon, averaging 10.6 points and 5.3 rebounds, Bowers was released by the team in order to make room for the signing of former St. John's player Sean Evans.[24][25]

Orlandina Basket

After almost a year off from basketball (during which he opened his own basketball camp[24][26]), he signed with Orlandina Basket of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A in August 2015.[27]

Personal life

After his grandmother died in early 2007, Bowers scored 23 points against The Webb School in his first high school game back in her honor.[28]

Bowers founded and runs his own company, LBO Sports LLC, which organizes a variety of coed summer basketball camps throughout Missouri and Tennessee.[29]

References

  1. ↑ Breece, Chris (February 18, 2013). "Interview: Arlyn Bowers,1990 Hogs Final Four Team". KFSM 5 News. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  2. ↑ Whitehead, Andre (March 2, 2008). "McDonald and Williams Sweep Mr. Basketball". Tennessee Prep Hoops. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Laurence Bowers Recruiting Profile". Rivals.com. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  4. ↑ Paylor, Terez (February 28, 2012). "Missouri seniors prepare for final game in Columbia". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  5. ↑ Durando, Stu (October 21, 2012). "Bowers hitting the books, not the boards". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Meyer, Brendan (June 24, 2013). "Laurence Bowers ready for whatever the future holds". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  7. ↑ Walentik, Steve (November 10, 2011). "The last shot for Missouri basketball's transformational players". The Columbia Tribune. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  8. ↑ Walentik, Steve (November 23, 2010). "Laurence Bowers now more than just highlight hero for Missouri". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  9. ↑ Fallstrom, R.B. (January 21, 2011). "Starting or not, Bowers produces for Tigers". USA Today. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  10. ↑ "2011 Phillips 66 All-Big 12 Men's Basketball Awards Announced". Big12Sports.com. March 6, 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  11. ↑ "English and Bowers Both Return". KOMU-TV. May 9, 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  12. ↑ Conn, Chris (October 4, 2011). "Missouri Basketball: Senior Forward Laurence Bowers Tears ACL". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Torn ACL ends F Laurence Bowers' year". ESPN. October 4, 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Sutton, Bowers are Academic All-Big 12". Columbia Daily Tribune. February 19, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  15. ↑ Rayno, Amelia (November 22, 2012). "Missouri's Laurence Bowers' story is similar to Mbakwe's ... except Bowers is starting". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  16. ↑ Porath, Brendan (January 9, 2013). "Laurence Bowers injury: Missouri forward has sprained MCL, will miss 2 games". SB Nation. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  17. ↑ Wang, Gene (June 6, 2013). "Wizards pre-draft workouts: Forwards James Southerland, Deshaun Thomas get a look". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  18. 1 2 3 Walentik, Steve (June 11, 2014). "Bowers enjoys first experience playing in Israeli pro league". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  19. ↑ Birdsong, Nick (June 29, 2013). "Missouri's Laurence Bowers picked up by Memphis Grizzlies summer league squad". Al.com. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Bowers to play for Grizzlies' summer-league team". Columbia Daily Tribune. June 29, 2013. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  21. ↑ Paylor, Terez A. (July 25, 2013). "Former MU forward Laurence Bowers signs contract with Israeli pro team". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Former Missouri forward Laurence Bowers named Rookie of the Year in Israeli league". Columbia Missourian. May 15, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  23. ↑ Atkins, Nate (June 28, 2012). "Missouri's Laurence Bowers, youth have strong bond". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  24. 1 2 Walentik, Steve (June 5, 2015). "Bowers keeping busy while awaiting next basketball opportunity". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  25. ↑ "Hapoel Holon signs Sean Evans, parts ways with Laurence Bowers". Sportando. December 7, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  26. ↑ "Camp Bowers". LBO Sports. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  27. ↑ Kim, Mark (August 2, 2015). "Laurence Bowers signs contract to play Italian basketball". KOMU-TV. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  28. ↑ Parker, Danny (February 9, 2007). "St. George's studs send Webb home". Shelbyville Times-Gazette. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  29. ↑ Raggs, Tramel (April 1, 2016). "Laurence Bowers maintains Mizzou roots during international off-season". Rock M Nation. SB Nation. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
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