Meet the Redshirts: Pacific’s Ray Bowles

With three senior starters at the 1-3 positions last season, the Pacific Tigers did not have a ton of open playing time for its freshmen. Although David Taylor and T.J. Wallace found a way to earn some playing time, Head Coach Ron Verlin thought it was best if Ray Bowles, a 6-foot-5 guard from Modesto, Calif., redshirted his first season at Pacific.

There was a good amount of hype surrounding Bowles coming out of high school, and Bowles will attempt and show why in his first season in uniform for Pacific in 2014-2015

While at Modesto Christian High School

Bowles was an absolute star at Modesto Christian High School based on all of his listed accomplishments and accolades.

The Modesto native was named the most valuable player of the All-Trans Valley League in both his junior and senior seasons, as well being named the Modesto Bee All-District Player of the Year in both seasons.

His 13.8 points per game throughout his varsity career is good for 1,684 total points, with a good amount of it coming as a junior, where Bowles averaged 18.6 points per game. As a senior, Bowles scored less (16.2 points per game) but still made enough of an impact to earn MVP honors.

Impact at Pacific

Bowles was huge local signing for the Tigers, which possibly started a pipeline from Modesto Christain to Pacific with Anthony Townes, Bowles former teammate, committing there as well for 2015.

Just because a redshirt season was used on Bowles does not mean Bowles isn’t ready to contribute this season. With all of the departures in the offseason, Pacific needs some of it’s younger players to step up. Bowles, who is fresh off a redshirt season and was a mightily successful player in high school, could be one of the first to step up.

More specifically, with the losses of Trevin Harris and Aaron Short, the Tigers cupboard on the wing is pretty bare. Bowles can help this out the Tigers on the wing with his size and basketball acumen, lessening the blow.