La Lumiere School Student-Athlete Named Gatorade Indiana Boys Basketball Player of the Year

La-Lumiere-School-Student-Athlete-Named-Gatorade-Indiana-Boys-Basketball-Player-of-the-Year-2017In its 32nd year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, today announced Brian Bowen of La Lumiere School as its 2016-17 Gatorade Indiana Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Bowen is the first Gatorade Indiana Boys Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from La Lumiere School.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court, distinguishes Bowen as Indiana’s best high school boys basketball player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year award to be announced in March, Bowen joins an elite alumni association of past state boys basketball award winners, including Karl-Anthony Towns (2012-13 & 2013-14, St. Joseph HS, N.J.), Dwight Howard (2003-04, SW Atlanta Christian Academy, Ga.), Chris Bosh (2001-02, Lincoln HS, Texas), Paul Pierce (1994-95, Inglewood HS, Calif.), Chauncey Billups (1993-94 & 1994-95, George Washington HS, Colo.) and Jason Kidd (1991-92, St. Joseph Notre Dame HS, Calif.).

The 6-foot-7, 195-pound senior guard and forward led the Lakers to a 24-1 record and a No. 2 ranking in the USA TODAY High School Sports Expert Rankings. Bowen averaged 22 points, six rebounds and three assists per game while shooting 59 percent from inside the arc. A 2017 McDonald’s All-American Game selection and a Naismith Trophy High School Player of the Year semifinalist, he is ranked as the nation’s No. 12 recruit in the Class of 2017 by ESPN.

Bowen has volunteered locally on behalf of Goodwill Industries International Inc., the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County and as a youth basketball coach. “Brian Bowen is a nightmare matchup who consistently completes sequences where he rebounds the ball on the defensive, leads the break and makes a play for one of his teammates,” said La Lumiere head coach Shane Heirman. “His shooting ability is unmatched and he dominates the glass on both ends of the floor.”

Bowen has maintained a 3.50 GPA in the classroom. He remains undecided upon a collegiate destination.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.

Bowen joins recent Gatorade Indiana Boys Basketball Players of the Year Kyle Guy (2015-16, Lawrence Central High School), Caleb Swanigan (2014-15, Homestead High School), Trey Lyles (2013-14, Arsenal Technical High School), Zak Irvin (2012-13, Hamilton Southeastern High School), Gary Harris (2011-12, Hamilton Southeastern High School), Cody Zeller (2010-11, Washington High School), Travis Carroll (2009-10, Danville Community High School), Jordan Hulls (2008-09, Bloomington High School South), Tyler Zeller (2007-08, Washington High School), and Eric Gordon (2006–07, North Central High School) among the state’s list of former award winners.

As a Gatorade Player of the Year, Brian will be able to select a national or local youth sports organization to receive a grant as part of the Gatorade Play It Forward program. Every Gatorade Player of the Year state winner receives a $1,000 grant to donate and will have the opportunity to enter for an additional $10,000 spotlight grant by writing a brief essay explaining why their selected organization deserves additional support. 12 spotlight grants – one for each sport – will be announced throughout the year.

To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit www.gatorade.com/poy.