By SAM LANCE
NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. — Nobody had a bigger play at Nike EYBL Peach Jam on Friday than four-star small forward Preston Fowler. With his New Heights Lightning squad down one point and the game in the final 10 seconds, Fowler was passed the ball and had to make a play late shot clock.
He got off a 3-pointer and didn’t make the shot, but he was fouled. He then went to the line and sunk 2-of-3 free throws to put the Lightning up 62-61. Team WhyNot missed it’s final look at the basket, and with that, Fowler officially put New Heights in the final bracket to chase a Peach Jam title.
What a game. @PrestonFowler23 wins it for @NH_Lightning.
— Sam Lance (@slancehoops) July 19, 2024
Several players with big games including Amari Evans, Christian Jeffrey and Meleek Thomas. pic.twitter.com/Lww793Yidd
So far this tournament, Fowler has averaged 7.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-7, 195-pound small forward from Brewster Academy describes himself as a 3-point specialist who can defend and plays with energy.
“I can do everything the team asks me to do,” Fowler said. “My defense has gotten way better since the AAU first started back in May. And also my ball handling. I don’t do a lot of ball handling in game, but off the court I’m always working on my ball handling.”
— Preston Fowler (@PrestonFowler23) July 18, 2024
As for Fowler’s recruitment?
“I went on two unofficials last fall: Wake Forest and Penn State,” Fowler said. “And I’m taking a visit in August to James Madison.”
Fowler has offers from each of those programs besides Penn State. He said he has been hearing from Oklahoma State, who has offered, as well as Xavier, Minnesota and Texas A&M lately.
He broke down some of these options:
Wake Forest (visit): “I would just say the way their practice runs. They’re nice and fluid. They all practice as a team. There’s no arguments. They all share the ball. It’s a good environment. The head coach talks to me a little bit and so does the assistant coach, coach [Jason] Shay.”
Penn State (vist): “I would say the same thing about them. They have hard practices. They like to communicate a lot. It looks like a family there too so it’s just stuff I look for.”
Oklahoma State: “They just recently got a new coaching staff so they are starting to reach out to me again. They started reaching out to me after the high school live period. I haven’t visited their school but I would just say that they — I think they have a good thing that’s going to happen this year.” Hearing from assistant coach Mike Ekanem.
JMU: “I really like them. They are a really like a family program. I’ve talked to every single coach that they have there. The head coach, he called my dad first before he even offered me. So it’s just — they seem like they are trying to like really make relationships like last. I think they have great things coming for them.”
Texas A&M: “They were in the tournament this year and they played really well. I know someone that goes there, like one of the players. So it’s just a good environment over there.”
Fowler does not know much about Xavier and Minnesota, as they are new schools in his recruitment.
The forward has another athlete in the family. His brother, Jaden Fowler, played Division II baseball at St. Rose in Albany (NY) and just graduated this spring. His parents played sports in high school but not at the next level. His mom played softball and ran track, and his father ran track as well and played basketball for two years.
Fowler and New Heights Lightning will next play on Saturday at noon against the Oakland Soldiers for a spot in the semifinals of Peach Jam.
“It feels great,” Fowler said of making the bracket. “Every year I’ve been here we’ve made it to the Elite Eight. We’re trying to make it further than that and win Peach Jam.”
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