The Oswego men’s basketball team have brought in junior transfer student Cartier Bowman from The College of Saint Rose in a move that will bolster their squad ahead of the new season.

    Bowman shot just over 56% from the field and averaged 7.3 points and 5.1 rebounds while only starting eight games last season. He was heavily utilized coming off the bench for the majority of last year, recording double digit minutes in all but three games.

    The move from Albany to Oswego is something that Bowman has enjoyed so far. He noted how the change from the capital city to upstate New York has been easy and that the real thing that drew him to Oswego State was the winning mentality shared by head coach Jason Leone and the rest of his squad.

    “Coach Leone made it known that he’s a winner,” Bowman said. “He’s been winning all his college career while coaching so that really stood out to me and I want to compete for a national championship and I feel like this would be the best fit. Coming from Saint Rose, another great school, that’s in a great conference … It’s nothing against them. I just felt like coming to Oswego, playing with Coach Leone and some of the older guys, it would be better and we’d be able to compete for a national championship and that’s the goal and all of us are locked in to it.”

    Bowman was full of praise for the organization, saying how he has felt welcome since his first visit. Leone personally speaking to him and telling him how much he wanted him on this team, as well as his teammates’ unselfish nature were some of the big things that helped him with his decision to become a Laker.

    “Nobody’s selfish. Even on my visit, the first day they all welcomed me with open arms, wanting me to be here,” Bowman said. “You can tell, even on my visit the coaches wanted me to be here. Ever since day one when coach Leone was recruiting me he showed me how much he wanted me, how much he cares about me and my future, which is now. Plus the guys here, Jamal [Achille], Jeremiah [Sparks], Julien [Crittendon], Devin [Green], the guys I live with, they’ve all just taken me under their wing and have showed me the ropes around here and I really appreciate them for that.”

    Bowman is confident that all of this will translate onto the court. He and his new teammates have already begun generating chemistry in order to learn what they do best together.

    “We’re already playing pick-up [games] and of course I’m still trying to fit in and find my role with the guys but it’s easy to play with each other,” Bowman said. “Everyone knows each other’s skills and what we do and what we can do best. So it’s been easy for me to fit in with them.”

     Bowman says he is looking forward to winning with this team. He has his sights set high with the end goal being simple: the national championship. However, individually Bowman wants to continue to build on the name he has made for himself and prove he belongs.

    “I don’t want to jinx anything, but [I] definitely [want to] go undefeated and win a national championship. Individually, I just want to be the best player I can be. I kind of made a name for myself playing at Saint Rose and I just want to keep things going when I come here. The new kid on the block and show everyone that I do belong here and I’m able to play with these guys.”

    Bowman joins a Lakers squad who reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Div. III National Championship last season following a nearly blemish-free regular season. He is one of three newcomers announced by the men’s basketball team, alongside sophomore Joseph Rowback and freshman Josh Thigpen.