West Bladen senior John Bowen announced Thursday night that he has committed to play basketball next season at Belmont Abbey in Belmont, NC.
Bowen, a 6-8 forward with 3-point shooting range, pumped in 16.4 points per game and posted double-figure points in 24 of 28 games as Coach Travis Pait’s Knights posted an 18-10 record. He scored 20 or more points in 9 games.
His season-high was 29 against Wallace-Rose Hill, but he reached the 20-point mark in 5 of his last 7 games. He was named to the All-Four County Conference basketball team.
Bowen had received offers from Cedarville University and Chowan, and had recently visited Lenoir Rhyne. He had also received interest from NC A&T, Queens and others.
Tyler French, a 6-11 teammate of Bowen’s on the Flight 22 Elite travel team, committed to Belmont Abbey on April 29th.
Belmont Abbey is a NCAA Division II member of the Conference Carolinas. The Crusaders posted a 10-10 conference record and were 14-15 overall this past season in Coach Billy Taylor’s first season at the school.