Brian Bowen ‘blessed’ to join Gamecocks … and more reaction to USC addition
Five-star recruit Brian Bowen is coming to South Carolina.
In addition to bringing a world of skills to the USC men’s basketball team, Bowen is also lugging the baggage of a scandal that cost Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino his job.
Coaches, current and past players, as well as experts and fans have thoughts on the Gamecocks’ addition.
Most from the Garnet & Black clad corner are enthusiastic about the possibilities of having such a highly-rated recruit on the floor at Colonial Life Arena.
No matter how you cut it, people are talking about Frank Martin’s South Carolina men’s basketball team.
Blessed #GAMECOCKS @GamecockMBB pic.twitter.com/0BPgaf3e8h
— Brian Bowen II (@20tugs) January 11, 2018
Great day for our Gamecock Basketball family. Gamecock Nation lets give @20tugs a big welcome to the family
— Frank Martin (@FrankMartin_SC) January 10, 2018
glad to see it @20tugs pic.twitter.com/AzSox063Fi
— jaki (@jakattacks) January 11, 2018
Hey #Gamecocks help us welcome Brian Bowen II to the Carolina family! pic.twitter.com/bRVOOAhbEf
— Gamecock MBB (@GamecockMBB) January 10, 2018
@20tugs We In The Gym Everyday ⛹♂️️♂️ This Move Was Big For The Culture Let’s Get It!!!! #GamecockNation
— Rah Felder (@juicecrew_rah) January 10, 2018
Welp. Guess it's time for another jersey number https://t.co/P8QwSVEEz4
— Tommy Corchiani (@Treyphanatic13) January 10, 2018
Surprise shoot today was pic.twitter.com/y6G19Kbtz6
— Justin King (@JustinKing) January 10, 2018
Welcome!!!! https://t.co/9QJI1E0lnQ
— Bakari Sellers (@Bakari_Sellers) January 10, 2018
Brian Bowen posts on Instagram: “New beginnings ... same dreams” pic.twitter.com/ruguoK0iwP
— Jeff Greer (@jeffgreer_cj) January 11, 2018
Time to go down a Brian Bowen highlight rabbit hole
— Harrison McConnell (@HarrisonMcC) January 11, 2018
-OMG the gamecocks got brian bowen???
— AJizzle (@aceboog1e) January 10, 2018
Rarely come across players/coaches who I'd love to have on my crew at the firehouse. But I'd confidently roll w/ Brian Bowen any day of the week. Same goes for @FrankMartin_SC, especially for the constant comedic value! COMPETITORS who would rather die than lose. Good fit... https://t.co/nc2toov7s2
— Mike Yagmin (@MikeYagmiNERR) January 10, 2018
South Carolina just got better. Brian Bowen leaves Louisvlle.
— alan cutler (@cutler18) January 10, 2018
Damn we got Brian Bowen. That's huge
— Marcus Williams (@cheesy_Womack) January 10, 2018
I wish Brian Bowen the best...especially when he plays uk.
— Rob Jones (@RobJones502) January 10, 2018
Well alright then. Brian Bowen now on campus, normal Wednesday afternoon, things of that nature.
— Kev Roché (@kevROSHAY) January 10, 2018
Brian Bowen (@20tugs): pic.twitter.com/twQASpnaOu
— Did The Cocks Win? (@DidTheCocksWin) January 10, 2018
Rah Felder
— In Muschamp We Trust (@CockyNation98) January 10, 2018
Brian Bowen
Possibly Chris Silva?
I like that.... i like it a lot... #SpursUp
#Gamecocks' 2018-19 starting 5?
— Brad Crawford (@BCrawford247) January 10, 2018
PG Rakym Felder
SG Justin Minaya
SF Brian Bowen
PF Chris Silva
C Maik Kotsar
Tourney time again.
There are certainly a few dissenters among USC fans.
Many of them are worried about his involvement in a scandal where Bowen was identified as the “unnamed player” that Adidas funneled $100,000 to at the request of a Louisville coach, leading to an FBI investigation and the firing of Pitino and Louisville AD Tom Jurich.
There are also plenty of Louisville fans who aren’t exactly enthusiastic that Bowen is getting the opportunity to move on when the Cardinals could face NCAA sanctions.
Additionally, there are college basketball fans and media members who have some critical points about the Gamecocks adding Bowen.
I mean, I wish Bowen the best and want him to succeed…..but like, did he really have to pick the school where Lamont Evans was allegedly taking bribes? https://t.co/stRaUnfcb8
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) January 10, 2018
Like genuinely, I want Frank Martin to succeed. He’s great, it’s better when he’s around, and when that program is relevant. I want Brian Bowen to succeed. This seems like an unnecessarily risky move for both parties.
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) January 10, 2018
I support the athlete on most things, especially in the college construct, but spare me feeling bad for Brian Bowen or his family. I'm struggling with this one, but I just don't believe him. I do see how one could find it plausible. Either way I'm glad he and his family are gone.
— Andy Sweeney (@TheOnlySweeney) January 11, 2018
I support the athlete on most things, especially in the college construct, but spare me feeling bad for Brian Bowen or his family. I'm struggling with this one, but I just don't believe him. I do see how one could find it plausible. Either way I'm glad he and his family are gone.
— Andy Sweeney (@TheOnlySweeney) January 11, 2018
So Cam Newton didn't know his Dad shopped him around and the same for Brian Bowen at Louisville. Got it.
— Brad Crawford (@BCrawford247) January 11, 2018
Brian Bowen lands at South Carolina following his brief, yet lucrative, stay at UL.
— The Bottom Line (@thebottomlineky) January 11, 2018
Hope Brian Bowen gets cleared and wins the National Title. I'm embracing this period of sports misery while everything else is on the come up. Just the universe balancing out
— Carson Jones (@CarsonJones1) January 11, 2018
Unless Brian Bowen is immediately eligible, he will never play at South Carolina
— The legend (@thelegendratman) January 10, 2018
Brian Bowen should not be eligible to play anywhere! Period! If UL is penalized by NCAA then he should be too.@NCAA
— CoachWatson (@CoachWatson11) January 10, 2018
If Louisville had to pay $100K to get Brian Bowen how much did South Carolina have to give him?
— Chandler Keith (@ChandlerKeith33) January 10, 2018
Interesting Brian Bowen chose South Carolina (or was chosen by South Carolina), another school tied to the college basketball investigation. https://t.co/3hl2jiu4Q2
— Chris White (@chriswhite_lcj) January 10, 2018
Assuming the allegations involving Brian Bowen are true: How is he able to play NCAA basketball ever?
— Connor Hope (@CondorianFM) January 10, 2018
This is a big IF, but if Brian Bowen gets reinstated this is a great basketball move for South Carolina. Risky, but could pay off big if he can play and stay out of trouble. https://t.co/LldouyjwwV
— Sean Saint Jacques (@SSaintj7) January 10, 2018
Brian Bowen is enrolling at South Carolina today as per @EvanDaniels. They are an Under Armour school and had an assistant coach charged in the FBI probe into college basketball.
— Tom Lane (@TomLaneWDRB) January 10, 2018
While y'all were trippin over Pitino, South Carolina had an assistant indicted in the FBI probe, got subpoenaed by the feds, and THEN picked up Brian Bowen. https://t.co/Xh744bb9fC
— . (@keelindemtweets) January 10, 2018
Brian Bowen, have fun in the NIT loser
— Bryan Thill (@bryan_thill) January 10, 2018
"Brian Bowen" is raising the BAR in College Basketball at “South Carolina” now? pic.twitter.com/zYqPmLLOgc
— Laughing Lyon (@Laughing_Lyon) January 11, 2018
If Brian Bowen ever plays a second at South Carolina when Enes Kanter was unfairly declared ineligible at Kentucky, then it will be one of the biggest disgraces the NCAA has ever committed outside of letting North Carolina get away with 18 years of systematic academic fraud.
— Matthew Peters (@MatthewPeters09) January 11, 2018
While there are people in favor of Bowen joining South Carolina, there’s another group about what his addition to the roster could also mean.
For years, USC fans have been hoping, praying, crossing their fingers and anything else they can to keep hope alive that Spartanburg native Zion Williamson will sign with the Gamecocks.
Would Bowen’s presence as another elite player be enough to entice the internet sensation to stay in the Palmetto State to play his college basketball before embarking on an NBA career. At least in South Carolina and not playing for Clemson, that is.
Imagine if we get Zion Williamson too! https://t.co/oN2F7w56lB
— Caleb (@xCalebJonesx) January 10, 2018
If Brian Bowen gets reinstated by NCAA to play basketball that could be a nice something extra & perhaps help in getting @ZionW32 to commit to @GamecockMBB . Just some thought. What’s your take @JayPhilips1075 ?
— DanielsensInTX (@GamecockfanTx) January 10, 2018
@ZionW32 With Brian Bowen just committing South Carolina, you should join him! Talk about a dynamic duo! #WeCocky #GamecockNation
— Giles Young (@giles412) January 10, 2018
No doubt we can use that we’ve been to the final four. And I would love for him to come here. I just think clemson has the better leverage right now. Getting Brian Bowen today could help us attract Zion knowing that he had more star power around him
— JR Seawell (@jrseawell3) January 11, 2018
Yeah. It be tough for this team to make the NIT this season. 20 wins gonna be tough ! David Beatty - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, Silva - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ..Silva comes back for senior year be huge ! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Brian Bowen ! We land Zion ...⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ omg
— Peyton Ledwell (@PeytonLedwell) January 10, 2018
That Possible Starting 5 next year in Basketball:
— USCFreeman (@d_fr33man) January 10, 2018
PG Felder
SG Minaya
SF Brian Bowen
PF Silva
C Kotsar
Off the Bench
G Holden
G Gravett
G Beatty
F Hasse
C Cudd
G Couisnard
Looking like a tourney team to me, if we somehow land Zion could be looking at Final 4 again
Come to SC. Stay home. Kotsar. Hopefully Silvia will stay. Brian Bowen. You. Scaryyy @ZionW32
— Brendan ‼️ (@brendan_lee4) January 10, 2018
People in South Carolina are legitimately talking about Zion Williamson vs Brian Bowen. Someone help me.
— . (@keelindemtweets) January 11, 2018
Would it be a pipe dream to wish for Zion Williamson next? https://t.co/8pMKQQl4Kv
— Aaron J. Pellot (@AJPONE) January 10, 2018
Zion Williamson, come on down...
— Julius Grant (@JuliusGrant) January 10, 2018
Maybe now we can get Zion Williamson to come here too
— John Freeman (@JohnFreeman2) January 10, 2018
This story was originally published January 10, 2018 at 8:20 PM with the headline "Brian Bowen ‘blessed’ to join Gamecocks … and more reaction to USC addition."