NCAA Basketball: 10 best players from state of South Carolina of last decade

9. Bryce McGowens – Nebraska

A five-star prospect from Pendleton, McGowens was an impact recruit who spent the previous year playing for Fred Hoiberg at Nebraska. This 6’7 guard had a very solid freshman season, standing out enough to prove himself ready for the next stage. Unfortunately, he spent that year on a Nebraska squad that seems uncompetitive in the Big Ten.

Across his season, McGowens averaged 16.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, becoming the top scorer for the Cornhuskers. Nebraska won just 10 games and tied for last in the Big Ten, but McGowens still had impact performances. He scored a career-high 29 points in a game against Rutgers and later put up 26-points in a season-ending upset at Ohio State. He also had a pair of double-doubles and missed a game late in the year due to a hand injury.

A standout freshman performance earned him All-Big Ten Third Team honors, even on a team that finished at the bottom of the conference standings. He was among the league’s best shooters and did finish 3rd in free throw percentage as well. Hoiberg’s best recruit left campus after that initial season and was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2022 NBA Draft; we’ll see how his professional career continues in the Charlotte Hornets organization this season.