Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
By JACK LeGWINSpecial to ZAGSBLOGBARTOW, Fla.- One of the top ranked juniors in the state of Florida, Alex Owens is only continuing to get better. He has serious aspirations for this year and the future, and he hopes his stock will continue to rise as the year goes along.
“I wanna win state and get that trophy,” Owens told SNY.tv after an overtime win for Oak Ridge (Fla.) over Bartow in which he scored 22 points and added 14 rebounds at the Mosaic Shootout. “I really want to make history.”Multiple schools are calling the 6-foot-8, 245 pound power forward from Orlando, but Owens says that only a few are showing the most interest.
“I would say Florida, Louisville, Maryland and Miami are showing the most interest,” Owens said. “UCF is also showing quite a bit too.”
Owens originally committed to UCF, but later decommitted. He insists however, that they are still high on his list.
“UCF is still high on my list,” Owens said. “I still give them a lot of respect.”
Ranked No. 53 in the class of 2015 by 247 Sports, Owens is one of the best rebounders not only in the class, but in the country, regardless of class. He works very hard on both ends on the glass to get easy buckets. An efficient scorer, Owens does have a decent amount of range, but thrives down low. His best game of the year was against then-No.1 ranked team in the nation Montverde Academy where he scored 24 points and grabbed 17 boards.
Owens currently has offers from Louisville, Florida, Florida State, Cincinnati, Georgia, Miami, Missouri, NC State, Providence, Central Florida, South Florida and Maryland.
Owens played for Each 1 Teach 1 Elite this past summer, and became a key part of a Peach Jam winning team. This up and coming summer, best friend and teammate at Oak Ridge, Antonio Blakeney will be joining him on the EYBL circuit for Each 1 Teach 1 Elite.
“We’ve been playing together since sixth grade,” Owens said. “I think we have the best scorer in the country with him, and I don’t think anyone can beat us when we’re both playing our A game.”
PHOTO- Orlando Sentinel
Follow Jack on Twitter
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
By JACK LeGWIN
Special to ZAGSBLOG
BARTOW, Fla.- One of the top ranked juniors in the state of Florida, Alex Owens is only continuing to get better. He has serious aspirations for this year and the future, and he hopes his stock will continue to rise as the year goes along.
“I wanna win state and get that trophy,” Owens told SNY.tv after an overtime win for Oak Ridge (Fla.) over Bartow in which he scored 22 points and added 14 rebounds at the Mosaic Shootout. “I really want to make history.”Multiple schools are calling the 6-foot-8, 245 pound power forward from Orlando, but Owens says that only a few are showing the most interest.
“I would say Florida, Louisville, Maryland and Miami are showing the most interest,” Owens said. “UCF is also showing quite a bit too.”
Owens originally committed to UCF, but later decommitted. He insists however, that they are still high on his list.
“UCF is still high on my list,” Owens said. “I still give them a lot of respect.”
Ranked No. 53 in the class of 2015 by 247 Sports, Owens is one of the best rebounders not only in the class, but in the country, regardless of class. He works very hard on both ends on the glass to get easy buckets. An efficient scorer, Owens does have a decent amount of range, but thrives down low. His best game of the year was against then-No.1 ranked team in the nation Montverde Academy where he scored 24 points and grabbed 17 boards.
Owens currently has offers from Louisville, Florida, Florida State, Cincinnati, Georgia, Miami, Missouri, NC State, Providence, Central Florida, South Florida and Maryland.
Owens played for Each 1 Teach 1 Elite this past summer, and became a key part of a Peach Jam winning team. This up and coming summer, best friend and teammate at Oak Ridge, Antonio Blakeney will be joining him on the EYBL circuit for Each 1 Teach 1 Elite.
“We’ve been playing together since sixth grade,” Owens said. “I think we have the best scorer in the country with him, and I don’t think anyone can beat us when we’re both playing our A game.”
PHOTO- Orlando Sentinel
Follow Jack on Twitter
