Ron Rowan
Ronald Rowan | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 23, 1962 New Brighton, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Nationality | American, Irish |
| Occupation | Professional basketball player (former) |
| Years active | 1986–2000s |
| Known for | Small forward in collegiate and professional basketball |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) |
Ronald Lewis Rowan (born April 23, 1962) is a former professional basketball player with American and Irish nationality. Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 200 pounds, Rowan played the small forward position. He competed at the collegiate level for both the University of Notre Dame and St. John's University.
High school and college career
Hailing from New Brighton, Pennsylvania, Rowan distinguished himself at Beaver Falls High School by averaging close to 26 points per game during his senior year. In February 1981, he committed to play for the University of Notre Dame under head coach Digger Phelps. However, in January 1983, when rumors of a transfer to Penn State emerged, Phelps suspended him. After Penn State’s coach Dick Harter left the program, Rowan was freed from his commitment there and subsequently transferred to St. John's University.
While at St. John's, Rowan appeared in 28 games alongside prominent players such as Chris Mullin and Mark Jackson during a season that concluded with a 31–4 record. In his final collegiate season (1985–86), he averaged 14 points per contest and helped lead the team to a 31–5 record, playing alongside Jackson, Walter Berry, and Shelton Jones. Rowan remains among the top 10 all-time free-throw shooters at St. John's with an .871 percentage.
Professional career
Rowan was selected in the third round of the 1986 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, but was released during training camp. He then joined the Continental Basketball Association, where he was named Rookie of the Year in 1987 while playing for the Topeka Sizzlers, posting an average of 18.8 points across 44 games.
In March 1987, Rowan signed a short-term 10-day contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, appearing in seven games and averaging 1.7 points per game.
Beginning in 1989, Rowan’s career took him to Italy where he competed for eleven seasons, including five years in the top-tier A1 league. He frequently switched teams throughout his time there except for a three-year stint with Kleenex Pistoia from 1989 to 1992, during which he scored a total of 3,767 points over 117 games.
Personal life
Rowan’s son, Maverick Rowan, continued the basketball legacy by playing at the collegiate level for NC State.