Laurence Bowers Class: Junior Hometown: Memphis, Tenn. High School: St. George's Height / Weight: 6-8 / 210 Position: Forward Experience: HS

Honors and Awards
2010 Second Team Academic All-Big 12
2010 Big 12 All-Reserve Team
ESPN SportsCenter #1 Play of the Day on Jan. 6, 2009

Quickly:
Long, athletic forward that should flourish with increased time this season ... Was one of the team's most efficient players last season, leading the club in blocks and rebounds per minute ... Battled a knee injury throughout his freshman campaign, but is closer to full strength entering his sophomore season and should regain the explosiveness he had as a high school standout in Tennessee.

At Mizzou:
2009-10:
Played in all 34 games for Missouri, making 11 starts ... Was named to the All-Reserve Team by a panel of Big 12 sportswriters for his play off the bench ... Ranked third on the team in scoring at 10.2 points and second in rebounding (5.7) ... Second on the club in field goal percentage (.555) and was tops in blocked shots (48) ... Those 48 rejections ranked #6 on Missouri's single-season list and his 61 career blocks is just eight shy of the MU Top 10 for a career ... Finished the season ranked #19 in rebounding and #6 in blocked shots in the Big 12 Conference ... Was a consistent scoring threat, reaching double figures 18 times, including a career high 23 points in the home win against Georgia ... Hit 11-of-14 shots vs. the Bulldogs in just 20 minutes ... Was excellent around the basket and ranked #10 in the Big 12 in offensive rebounding (2.4) ... Started the final six games of the season and reached double figures three times, including 15 points in the NCAA Tournament win against Clemson ... Tied a career high with 33 minutes played and hit 6-of-10 shots, dished three assists and recorded three steals ... Led the club with three double-doubles, all three of which came in league play.

2008-09:
Showed flashes of brilliance while playing behind senior All-Big 12 performers DeMarre Carroll and Leo Lyons ... Played in 31 games and averaged 3.2 points and 2.1 boards in 6.9 minutes of action ... Reached double figures three times on the year, including season highs of 16 points in home wins over Colorado and Kansas State ... Needed just 15 minutes to reach those 16 tallies against the Wildcats thanks to 7-of-9 shooting from the floor ... Also chipped in six boards and a block ... Hit 7-of-8 field goals vs. Colorado and also contributed two assists, two steals and a swat ... Ranked among team-leaders with nine dunks, including an alley-oop flush against Coppin State that was deemed the #1 Play of the Day on ESPN SportCenter's Top 10.

High School
Helped lead St. Georges' Independent School to a 25-3 record and a berth into the Tennessee Division II State semifinals as a senior ...Averaged 19.8 points, 12.4 rebounds and 3.7 blocks for the Gryphons ... Was a finalist for Tennessee's Mr. Basketball Award and was a McDonald's All-America game nominee ... Widely considered the top defensive player in the state of Tennessee ... Was a four-time all-state performer, initially at Elliston Baptist High School, before transferring to St. Georges' for his junior and senior campaigns ... Also named to the all-district and all-region teams ... Was selected his team's MVP as a sophomore and co-MVP as a junior ... Led St. Georges' to the Tennessee Division II State Championship as a junior, en route to earning all-state recognition ... Four-time Defensive Player of the Year at his school ... Earned first team all-state recognition from the Memphis Commercial Appeal as a senior ... Also a standout on the baseball diamond, earning all-state and all-region recognition as a pitcher during his freshman and sophomore seasons ... Received scholarship consideration for his work on the mound.

Personal:
Full name is Laurence R. Bowers ... Born in Memphis, Tenn., to Nancy Bowers and Laurence Young ... Is hoping to pursue a major in the area of visual arts or communications at Missouri ... Would like to use his degree to travel abroad and work with people of different cultures ... Coached at St. Georges' by Jeff Ruffin and in the summer by Ernie Kuyper ... Lists the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, as his favorite musical artist ... Lists P.Y.T. by Michael Jackson has his favorite song ... Favorite food is chicken Alfredo and Coach Carter is his favorite movie ... Lists his pitching ability as a hidden talent off the court ... Can also play the piano ... Is the nephew of former Arkansas standout Arlyn Bowers ... Bowers played for Anderson and Noland Richardson at Arkansas from 1988-91 ... Has one sister, Amelia ... Lists his mother, Aunt Mary and Uncle Arlyn as the most influential people in his life ... Selected Missouri over scholarship offers from Arkansas, Marquette, George Mason, New Mexico and UTEP ... Selected Missouri because of his relationship with Coach Anderson and assistant coach T.J. Cleveland.

In The Words Of Laurence Bowers

Why I Selected The University of Missouri:
"I selected the University of Missouri because of the location, coaching staff, and the up-tempo style of play."

The Fastest 40 Minutes In Basketball Is:
"The most intense style of basketball for 40 minutes that allows a player to do what he can do without a limitation to his game".

Missouri teamwork within the Community:
"Our team is very involved in the community. We read to young kids at elementary schools, provide instructions for mini campers, attend little kids birthday parties as surprise guests, and help out with the annual clinic at Douglass Park. We feel like we have the community's support, so they should have ours too."

Coach Anderson is more than just a basketball coach because:
"He doesn't only interact and protect us on the basketball court. When we slip up, he gets us back on track. When we need advice, he offers, and for myself personally, I would say he is family. He has been involved with my family since his days of coaching my uncle at Arkansas."