Unsigned Senior Spotlight: JD Dowden
Charlotte's United Faith Christian Academy was one of the top overall programs in the NCISAA 1-A division for a good part of the last decade. I spent a lot of time there when Mugsy Bouges was the head coach and during the weeks before the season, they would have some really strong pick-up games. Clemson's Gabe DeVoe, Portland's Alec Wintering, Baylor's Allerik Freeman, Indiana's Peter Jerkin among others would hone their skill there. The news over the summer that the school was moving away from its basketball program led to prospects within the program trying to find a new home for the upcoming season.
JD Bowden was one of the prospects that needed to find a new home and find it fast. The 6-foot-1 point guard averaged nearly 16 points per game last season to go along with 7.1 assists. He spent the travel season with Team United, Charlotte's Nike EYBL team and was picking up steam on the recruiting trail. He ultimately ended up at Ambassador Christian, a new private school coached by Scott Taylor. Taylor was also on the move over the off-season, where he left Myers Park High School, also in Charlotte. Taylor had won a state-championship for the Mustangs and had a slew of talent. We caught up with Bowden to discuss his recruitment and the move to Ambassador Christian.
"Ambassador is going great it’s been a good switch and the coaching is good," he tells HoopSeen.
Bowden is a true floor general who can score his points and facilitate. He worked hard over the fall and is one of the top returning seniors in the class for the Charlotte and North Carolina as a whole. "I worked out a lot this summer with my trainer Coach Vlad at the Harvest Center and Slay Center and I spent time with college and pro players to get me better, Treveon Graham played for the Hornets and another overseas player, I haven’t had anyone specifically out of Charlotte to model my game after but I like to watch a lot of Tyrese Maxey and Darius Garland," he said.
As far as his recruitment, Bowden tells HoopSeen, "I’ve been talking to Indiana St, Marshall, Mount St Mary’s and Presbyterian recently." He has taken unofficial visits to High Point, Radford, College of Charleston, Western Carolina, Furman, UNC-Greensboro and Charlotte. "I've had offers from Western Carolina, Radford, FIU, High Point and NC A&T." With the way recruiting is right now, some of these offers might not still be committable but Bowden brings a lot of game with him wherever the right situation unfolds and is a guy I would want on my team.
"I can bring ball pressure, playmaking/ shot creating, a faster pace and the ability to knock down open shots," he said about what he can bring to the next level. We will be following Bowden and his senior season at Ambassador Christian closely.
