He has yet to play a second at USC but former Louisville signee Brian Bowen is taking steps just in case he is not cleared by the NCAA.
The 5-star prospect out of Indiana, whose last official game was the 2017 McDonald's All-America Game, has decided to declare for the NBA Draft. Bowen will not hire an agent but his future is essentially in the hands of the NCAA who has to decide when, or if, Bowen can be reinstated to where he could play for the Gamecocks. But Bowen has only until May 30 to decide if he will stay in the NBA Draft pool or return to school. If the NCAA doesn't decide on Bowen's fate by that deadline, Bowen will have a very difficult decision to make. There is no guarantee the NCAA will reinstate him although Frank Martin and USC officials remain confident that it will happen at some point during next season.
Bowen has been a part of the federal investigation into corruption and bribery in college basketball. Adidas executives are facing charges of sending $100,000 to Bowen's family in exchanged for Bowen coming to Louisville. Bowen denied knowledge of any payment and was cleared by the FBI. He eventually left Louisville without having ever played for the Cardinals and landed at USC.
The question now is will he stay enrolled at USC or will he decide to make the move to the NBA.
We shall see.
