Life as a highly touted basketball prospect opens many athletes up to scrutiny from the outside world, even from those who don't know the athlete's entire story.
Such has been the case for No. 1 JUCO recruit Cinmeon Bowers, who announced last week that he would be Bruce Pearl's first commitment as Auburn head coach.
The bruising 6-foot-6, 240- pound forward from Racine, Wisc. has battled through a variety of incidents on his journey to the Plains, all the while trying to shake a nagging public perception that he is somehow a "thug."
"It's been a rough road," Bowers said. "If you believe in God, though, anything is possible."
Bowers' high school basketball career started in Racine, but he soon transferred to Rufus King International School in Milwaukee, one of the top public schools in Wisconsin.
It also became the site of his first "bad experience."
"They tried to rob me," Bowers said. "You know, Milwaukee is rough, and they tried to rob me while I was sitting in the front seat of a car. My friend, he pulled off as they were opening my door, and they just started shooting."
Outside of his very own high school, Bowers was hit twice in the leg that snowy day, a moment that derailed a promising high school career that had already garnered interest from Memphis, UConn and Louisville.
"It's scary to think about," Bowers said. "I thought my career was over. I just believed in God, and then I got back in school."
The long recovery from the shooting alongside lingering academic eligibility issues forced Bowers down a different path to collegiate basketball.
"I kept going to rehab, so I could keep getting stronger," Bowers said. "I tried my luck with JUCO, and it's worked out."
The detour led Bowers 973 miles from Racine, to the small town of Marianna, Fla. and Chipola Junior College.
Now, fully recovered from his wounds, Bowers took on a starring role for the Indians of Chipola, averaging 12.9 points and leading his team with 8.9 rebounds per game on the way to a NJCAA Quarterfinal appearance.
Bowers' performances quickly caught the attention of scouts from across the nation. He was widely considered one of the top JUCO prospects in the nation, with some services even ranking the forward first overall.
Offers flooded in from the nation's top basketball schools, like Louisville and Memphis.
Bowers seemed set to join Florida State in 2014, but he was arrested in January of 2013 on charges of tampering with evidence when police accused him of concealing marijuana by eating the substance during a traffic stop.
"They didn't have any evidence," Bowers said. "That's why they eventually dropped it all the way, no charges at all."
All charges stemming from the incident were dropped, but Bowers was soon released from his letter of intent at FSU.
Though he's never been charged with a crime, Bowers worried that his image had been tarnished by the events of his past.
"People already think I'm a thug, but I'm not a thug," Bowers said. "With the way I play on the court, people think that, but I'm just aggressive, and I play with passion."
Bowers, who has a 3-year-old daughter, said those who still consider him a "thug" don't understand that his passion on the court serves a different goal off the court.
"I have a daughter, and she's three years old, so how could I be a thug when I have a daughter?" Bowers said. "I have to pay the debts for her. That's the only reason I'm really doing this for her. She made me grow up a lot."
Through it all, Bowers' mentor and former AAU coach Duane Wilson Sr., has provided guidance to the young forward. Their relationship eventually helped Bowers land a Division I home at Auburn University.
"[Auburn assistant coach] Tony Jones had good connections with my AAU coach, and he was kind of my mentor, so I thought it would be a good idea for me," Bowers said.
With Auburn set as the next destination on his journey, Bowers said he wants to the public's perception of him while rebuilding his new school's basketball program.
"I want to get Auburn back to rolling like it was," Bowers said. "It's not even about me. Of course I want to make sure I'm straight, but at the end of the day, I just want to win. That's what it's all about."
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