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Impact Analysis: Jordan Bowden

Tennessee added some local flavor to its 2016 basketball class this evening, picking up a verbal commitment from wing Jordan Bowden. What does Bowden bring to the table and what does his addition mean going forward? Let’s answer those questions with our Impact Analysis.

HOW DOES BOWDEN FIT IN?

The former Knox Carter standout comes in as part of an enormous recruiting class by basketball standards. Rick Barnes’ 2016 haul now holds six players, a number that represents nearly half of the 13 available roster spots.

Adding size in this class was a huge priority for the Vols’ staff, and while they’ve done that to some degree with Grant Williams and John Fulkerson, it still remains a very real need. The point being, for the Vols to take a wing like Bowden at this stage with size such an obvious probably, it seems to be a strong comment that the staff views him as someone with serious potential as a player and a prospect.

Bowden joins a class that already has some athleticism on the wings in Jalen Johnson and high-flying Kwe Parker. Bowden looks like he provides a nice blend of what both players bring to the table. He’s shown a nice combination of athleticism and shooting touch during his prep year at 22-Feet Academy.

A versatile scorer from the wing, Bowden’s decision to take a fifth-year at prep school has worked out marvelously. He was getting some high-major looks as a year ago as a senior, but nothing like the interest he has generated this spring and winter.

He’s really tightened his game up in terms of ball-handling and being a more complete offensive player. He’s also answered some questions about being able to play—and excel—with other top players around him after leading his high-school team in scoring, a team that featured high-major signees Eli Wright (Mississippi State) and Sedee Keita (South Carolina).

Like any other freshman coming into a program at this level, Bowden will have a learning curve to negotiate on the defensive end, but he’s got a solid offensive skill set, good size for his position and looks like an SEC-caliber athlete.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR TENNESSEE

First and foremost Bowden’s commitment and impending signing means that the Vols now have a full roster for 2016-17. That is, it’s full as things stand now. Given the manner that the staff appears to be continuing to look for ‘bigs,’ it’s reasonable to think that Barnes & Co. may anticipate one more departure from the current roster, though that’s merely speculation at this point.

If nothing else, adding Bowden certainly gives Barnes some perimeter flexibility with this roster. The head coach showed this season that playing small and fast is something he’s intimately comfortable with, and as his roster is presently constructed, that could be a theme for next season as well.

On that front, Bowden can be classified as a ‘big, strong’ guard who should be able to contribute as a rebounder—a huge concern in a guard heavy line-up—and he also has enough size and strength to think he can eventually guard multiple positions if he takes getting better on that end of the floor seriously.

Looking down the road, adding another wing to this class almost certainly means that finding size becomes a bigger priority than ever in the upcoming 2017 class. Barring further roster movement (which is always a possibility in this day and age), the Vols will have only one spot open in 2017, the one vacated by next year’s lone senior Robert Hubbs.

It’s reasonable to think that more space may open up, but regardless, that looks like a tiny class, which will place more pressure on the staff to evaluate and land a big that can contribute in a hurry.

SCOUTING REPORT ON BOWDEN

From rivals.com national analyst Eric Bossi:

"Often times when prospects pop up this late in the recruiting process we view them with a lot of skepticism. However, having seen Bowden play at a few events this season we can see what coaches are thinking.

"Bowden is a lengthy two guard capable of stripping the nets from deep and he can put the ball on the floor and create. He's a guy who can play some point guard on the high school level and while he won't likely be running a team in college, he can be an effective secondary ball handler.

"He's a value recruit at this point in that he has a high upside and has a huge ceiling for growth once he gets into a college program and adds strength."

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