Taylor Bol Bowen has yet to play a game for Alabama, but the buzz surrounding the talented forward has been anything but quiet.
As Alabama men’s basketball gears up for another season under head coach Nate Oats, expectations are high for both the team and Bowen. Coming off the first Final Four appearance in program history and following it up with an Elite Eight run last year, the Crimson Tide has never been in better shape.
While Alabama lost eight players from last year’s squad, the team returns key players such as guards Labaron Philon and Aden Holloway, along with Bowen and several other transfers.
Bowen is a 6-foot-10-inch tall transfer from Florida State, where he played two years and averaged 8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in his sophomore season.
With the departure of forwards Grant Nelson and Mouhamed Dioubate, Oats knew he would have to fill the void they left behind.
Oats and his staff ended up finding Bowen, who fit the stretch-forward role that needed to be filled.
“I think he’s smart; he can handle it, get a rebound, and push it up the floor. He plays to our speed, ” Oats said.
For a team last year that led the country in possessions per game with 78.5, a stretch forward like Bowen is great for Alabama because the team tries to push the pace and play fast.
Alabama also shot close to 30 3s a game last season, which is great for a guy like Bowen, who shot 41% from 3 at Florida State.
Oats and staff have full belief in Bowen and his ability to compete on both sides of the ball. They hope he can play a vital role in keeping the Crimson Tide on the top of the SEC.
Bowen has expressed his belief in both Oats and assistant coach Preston Murphy, with whom he had a previous relationship during his time playing AAU.
“I’m a true believer in Nate Oats and what he brings to the table,” Bowen said. “Other things, like Preston Murphy and him coaching me when I was in AAU back in those Expressions and EYBL days, I feel like he brought out the best in me time and time again.”
If the Crimson Tide is able to get the most out of Bowen this season, then he could be in for a massive year and boost his draft stock.
His most eye-popping skill offensively is his ability to catch and shoot, an area where he improved immensely last year. With Bowen now playing for a team with outstanding floor spacing and pace, he will look to thrive in his new role.
“He brings a valuable collection of defensive instincts, physical tools, and untapped potential. That, combined with a clear, low-usage role, puts him on NBA radars,” NBA draft scout Ersin Demir said.
Bowen has some really good defensive instincts, sliding his feet to stay in front of defenders, but lacks the strength to guard a player in the interior and needs to build muscle to become more versatile as a defender.
He has been seen as a legitimate prospect to be picked in this year’s draft and is seen as a late second round selection at the moment.
Alabama opens its season on Nov. 3 at home against North Dakota, where the revamped roster will be revealed for the first time.
