Ohio basketball standout plays for more than just the game
CINCINNATI (BVM) – Bowen Hardman is a 6-foot-4 basketball standout at Princeton High School. He has already received Division I college basketball offers from several schools as he continues to impress at the prep level. However, at just 16 years old, Bowen has endured something most others his age could not even fathom – the passing of his father.
The 16-year-old has played basketball since kindergarten, and was introduced to the game by his dad, David. The sport has been a main component of his life ever since.
“Basketball means so much to me. Just being able to go out and play and know that you’re good at something makes you feel special,” Bowen said.
As a former basketball coach, David spent a lot of time teaching his son the game and helping him become the player he is today. The two would often work on the fundamental parts of basketball, which Bowen is now seeing pay off at the high school level.
However, in 2018, everything would change for the Hardman family, as David was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer called multiple myeloma. Just over a year later in March 2019, he would pass away.
A former social studies teacher and high school girls basketball coach, David graduated from Princeton High School in 1993, and was married to fellow Princeton grad Dawn Hardman for 19 years. As it would be for anyone, the news for Bowen was absolutely devastating.
“It was really tough. You never expect things like that,” Bowen said. “He meant the world to me. Our relationship was very, very tight and it was a bond not a lot of people have with their father.”
The toll of your father passing away would be enough for many to take a break from the sport they play, if not quit outright. But for Bowen, it has made him even more focused and driven, and his love for basketball has helped get him through the tough times.
“When my dad passed and my mom told me everything, the first place I wanted to go was to the gym. It motivated me even more and I know my dad would want me to keep working and working,” Bowen said.
The Vikings’ standout plays for his dad each game, and he’s made remembering him part of his pre-game routine before every contest. This includes prayer in the locker room, handshakes with teammates that turn into wings, and hugging his mom and two younger sisters before he plays.
The motivation, drive, and inspiration Bowen has been able to find through this difficult situation has led to great success on the court for him. The Princeton guard averaged 13 points, four rebounds, and two assists per game as a sophomore, highlighted by a 21-point outburst against Lakota West. The season led to an all-conference second team nod from the Greater Miami Conference for Bowen — the only sophomore to be named an all-conference player.
For the Vikings as a whole, it was an up and down season which still resulted in a 17-9 record. The team featured eight seniors, as Bowen was the youngest player on the roster. But despite so many players graduating this summer, the guard still believes the future for Princeton basketball is bright.
“I think we can be really good. The biggest thing is having all these young guys adapt to the program and just being able to come in and work everyday as hard as they can. It’s a blessing to be able to be a leader on this team. I think the future is really bright,” the 16-year-old said.
Bowen will now get to play under new head coach Bryan Wyant during his final two years as a Viking, who was hired this spring to replace interim coach Steve Green.
The shooting guard believes the best part of his game is his offensive ability, as he is able to create his own shot but also finish at the rim. Bowen’s defense continues to come along with each game as well.
Several Division I college programs are taking notice of his skills, as the 2022 graduate has already received scholarship offers from Ohio State, Cincinnati, Xavier, and Ohio University. In May, Bowen verbally committed to play collegiately for the Buckeyes.
The basketball star is clearly impressing on the court, but he also shines with his family off of it. After his father’s passing, Bowen has taken on additional responsibilities around the house, and also has become more of a role model for his two younger sisters, Ava and Chaylee.
“You hate to say this as a 16-year-old, but you kind of have to be the man of the house. You have to do a lot more chores and that role is tough. But I have accepted it and I’m loving every second of it. Being able to take care of my sisters and see them grow up is a blessing,” Bowen said.
His sisters have taken up the game of basketball and Bowen has tried to help teach them, just like their father helped him learn. The Princeton basketball star has grown into a true leader whether it is on the court, or off the court with family.
“They have kind of grown into the game this year and it was really cool being able to see them play. We go out back all the time and dribble and shoot. Being a leader is very important to me,” Bowen added.
While the 16-year-old has become even closer with his sisters over the past year, his relationship and admiration for his mother has grown as well.
“My mom is my rock. She is always there for me, she’s my No. 1 fan, and she makes sure I’m well taken care of. With everything with my dad that happened, I’ve watched her grow into an even stronger woman in general. It’s hard for all of us, but for her to be able to come out and keep things positive for our whole family just amazes me. I can’t thank God enough for her being in my life and being there for me,” Bowen said.
Having family to lean on and support you through tough times such as this is always important. But Bowen and his family have also received a lot of support from their community as a whole.
“The community has been really good to us. When everything happened with my dad, we had a lot of our neighbors bringing us food and the community checking on us,” the 16-year-old said.
Not only did he get support from the community, but also from his teammates, on and off the court. One of the most touching displays for Bowen is the fact that many of his teammates took the funeral programs from his father’s wake and placed them on their car dashboards, with many still keeping them there to this day.
“My teammates were always there for me. They mean a lot to me and they have my back no matter what,” Bowen added.
Through all the support he has gotten from family, friends, and teammates, Bowen has become even stronger on and off the court. Unfortunately, his dad is not here to see how far his son has come, but Bowen knows what he would tell him if he was.
“The first thing I would say is I love you and I miss you,” Bowen said. “But I’d probably want to tell him everything that’s happened since he’s been gone with the basketball scholarships and all the people that I’ve been able to meet. I wish he was here, but everything happens for a reason.”
In one of the most difficult situations you can face in life, Bowen has stayed strong and turned a tough situation into an inspiring one. He is a star on the court with a bright future in the game of basketball, but the kid who has quickly developed into a man off the court might be even more impressive.
