'A journey': How this Peoria High guard has grown into a Division-I prospect

PEORIA — Colleges are coming to see Leshawn Stowers and aren’t stopping any time soon.

The Peoria High junior has seen a parade of NCAA Division-I men’s basketball coaches come to the Lion’s Den, leaving with positive impressions. He’s one of several class of 2025 players from around Peoria garnering next-level interest.

And it’s easy to see why.

Take his performance in Tuesday’s 63-53 win over East Peoria. Stowers, a 6-foot-4 guard, filled up the stat sheet with a game-high 18 points to go with six rebounds, six assists, two steals and two assists.

“This year I got to shoot the ball more,” he said, “score the ball for us more."

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Last season, the all-Big 12 Conference honorable mention selection was relied on to handle the ball and facilitate the offense. Now, he’s being asked to fill a scoring void left with Mikequese Taylor graduating and both Daquan Little (Richwoods) as well as De’Kwon Brown (Chicago Simeon) transferring.

How has he been able to come into his own?

“A lot of maturity,” Peoria High coach Daniel Ruffin said. “He’s a kid that’s kind of (keeps) to himself, a little shy. For us to be where we want to be, we need him to be the guy to take the lead.

“He’s learning how to do it. It’s something new for him. He’s not used to people looking his way, but I think he’s doing a great job embracing that role. It’s going to be a long journey, and I’m here to push him through it.”

In the victory over EP, Stowers scored eight of his team’s final 10 points in a five-minute stretch of the third quarter. He split a pair of free throws and finished nicely on a post move. His 3-pointer from the left wing and throwing down a thunderous dunk in transition just before capped a remarkable offensive display.

Stowers says he’s worked tirelessly on his 3-point shooting, scoring off the dribble, catching and shooting as well as getting to the rim, while still being a playmaking guard.

“(Ruffin) wants me to shoot the ball way more,” he said, “so I’m definitely going to start doing that for us.”

But this took a lot of growth from Stowers, who last season averaged 9.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and shot 41% percent from 3-point land.

“That’s his natural attribute is (an) unselfish player,” Ruffin said. “For us to be decent and be good, we need him to be a little bit more selfish and force the issue a little bit. I know that’s not his natural instinct. I believe that at the next level he’s going to be the perfect guy for whatever system he (goes and) plays for.

“Here on the high school level, we need him to be a little more assertive. I think that’s the part that’s a little hard for him right now because that’s not his natural game, and us kind of bringing it out of him is the challenge. … He’s embracing himself.”

Once that new self-assurance grew, colleges began to offer as he teamed with a pair of D1 prospects in Dietrich Richardson (Manual) and Matthew Zobrist (Metamora) on the summer basketball scene with Mid-Pro Academy.

Stowers holds scholarship nods from Southern Illinois, Eastern Illinois and Incarnate Word. Coaches from Bradley, Illinois State, Miami (Ohio), Wisconsin-Green Bay, Valparaiso, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and Northern Iowa have also seen him play during open gyms.

This has helped skyrocket Stowers’ ability to embrace his new role.

“I’m more confident,” he said. “I didn’t have the confidence at first. My confidence was low, so once I started getting offers, I started (to know) I was him, so I got to be more productive.

“I just knew I had to come here (in open gym) playing hard, was an underdog, so I had to keep working and striving to be the best.”

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Ruffin says he’s been able to push Stowers as hard he can push him, with Stowers fully aware Ruffin has his best interest in mind. There’s nothing personal about the coaching Ruffin provides his standout player.

It’s been a good coach-player relationship with Stowers saying he’s ready to listen because "(Ruffin’s) been in my shoes" and he can "take criticism and keep working."

“He can be real good,” the former Bradley standout said. “He got a chance to be something special. I’m glad I can be a part of that with his growth and kind of show him some of things I’ve experienced and try to get him to that next level.”

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria High's Lashawn Stowers profile, NCAA Division I basketball prospect