Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Men's Basketball Signs JUCO Star LaMar Owen
04/22/2003 | 12:00:00 | Men's Basketball
April 22, 2003
\Southern Illinois University men's basketball coach Bruce Weber announced the signing of Southeastern Illinois College forward LaMar Owen. Owen's signed letter of intent was received by the basketball office on Tuesday.
Owen (6-5, 190, Jr.) was an honorable mention JUCO All-American last year and helped lead SIC to a seventh place finish at the National Junior College Athletic Association national tournament. He averaged 15.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game last season and helped his team compile a 61-8 record during his career.
"He has a lot of energy and really defends well," Weber said. "He can guard anyone from a point guard to a four man. If we had a little bit of a weakness last year it was guarding a three or four man like (Northern Iowa's) Matt Schneiderman or (Bradley's) Mike Suggs."
The Owensboro, Ky. native will have two years of eligibility at SIU.
"He's a winner," Weber said. "He's a good kid. (SIC coach) Todd Franklin does a great job, pushes the guys and is demanding of them, so I think his transition should be a little easier."
As a senior at Owensboro High School in 2001, Owen averaged 18.5 ppg and 11.0 rpg. He was named second team all-state by the Louisville Courier Journal and third team all-state by the Associated Press. Owen was also named Mr. Soccer in the state of Kentucky.
He joins a recruiting class that includes Missouri standouts Randal Falker (6-8, 210, Fr.) of St. Louis Gateway Tech, Jamaal Tatum (6-1, 165, Fr.) of Jefferson City and Jamaal Foster (6-9, 205, Fr.) of Columbia.
