Raymond Cowels III (born November 18, 1990) is an American professional basketball player who plays for MKS Dąbrowa Górnicza of the Polish Basketball League. He played college basketball for Santa Clara University before playing professionally in the Netherlands, New Zealand, Finland and France.

Raymond Cowels
Cowels with Spójnia Stargard in September 2019
No. 18 – MKS Dąbrowa Górnicza
PositionShooting guard / small forward
LeaguePolish Basketball League
Personal information
Born (1990-11-18) November 18, 1990 (age 34)
Chicago, Illinois
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight206 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High schoolHopkins (Minnetonka, Minnesota)
CollegeSanta Clara (2009–2013)
NBA draft2013: undrafted
Playing career2013–present
Career history
2013–2014Den Helder Kings
2016Nelson Giants
2016–2017Helsinki Seagulls
2017–2018Hyères-Toulon
2018Canterbury Rams
2018–2019Boulazac
2019–2021Spójnia Stargard
2021Poitiers Basket 86
2021–2022Legia Warsaw
2022–2023Falco KC Szombathely
2023–2024Legia Warszawa
2024–presentMKS Dąbrowa Górnicza
Career highlights and awards

High school career

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Cowels attended Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, Minnesota where he led his team to 128 wins with only six losses while winning two state championships in 2006 and 2009, and earning All-State honors twice and all-conference three times. As a sophomore in 2006–07, he averaged 11 points and six rebounds per game as Hopkins made it to the section championship. As a junior in 2007–08, he averaged 17 points and seven rebounds per game in leading Hopkins 27–2 record.[1] In November 2008, Cowels signed a National Letter of Intent to play college basketball for Santa Clara University.[2] He went on to average 16 points and six rebounds as a senior in 2008–09.[1]

College career

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In his freshman season at Santa Clara, Cowels played all 32 games with 11 starting assignments while averaging 7.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 24.0 minutes per game. He finished in the top 10 of five categories of the SCU freshman records, including three-pointers made (46, 5th); three-pointers attempted (146, 2nd); free throw percentage (.787, 3rd); steals (26, 10th); and minutes played (769, 9th).[1][3] In his sophomore season, Cowels' minutes and production both decreased as he averaged just 5.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 15.3 minutes in 37 games and only nine starts.[1][3] In his junior season, Cowels was the only player to start every game as he led the team and tied for No. 5 on the Bronco single-season list in three-point field goal percentage (43.1 percent). In 30 games, he averaged 10.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 27.7 minutes per game.[1][3] In his senior season, Cowels became the 31st player in school history to score 1,000 career points on February 16 with a corner three in the second half against Pepperdine. In 38 games (all starts), he averaged 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds ad 1.5 steals in 26.2 minutes per game.[1][3]

College statistics

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2009–10 Santa Clara 32 11 24.0 .318 .315 .787 2.2 1.3 .8 .1 7.3
2010–11 Santa Clara 37 9 15.3 .366 .354 .815 1.8 .6 .2 .2 5.4
2011–12 Santa Clara 30 30 27.7 .424 .431 .744 3.5 1.0 .8 .2 10.1
2012–13 Santa Clara 38 38 26.2 .408 .390 .865 4.3 .5 1.5 .2 9.4

Professional career

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On July 18, 2013, Cowels signed a one-year deal with the Den Helder Kings of the Dutch Basketball League.[4] In 40 games for Den Helder in 2013–14, he averaged 10.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.

On November 1, 2014, Cowels was selected with the final pick in the 2014 NBA Development League Draft by the Reno Bighorns.[5] He was later traded to the Maine Red Claws on draft night.[6] On November 10, he was waived by the Red Claws prior to the start of the regular season.[7]

In July 2015, Cowels joined the Memphis Grizzlies for the 2015 Orlando Summer League,[8] helping the team win the tournament championship.[9] In five games for the Grizzlies, he averaged 3.4 points and 2.0 rebounds per game.

On December 17, 2015, Cowels signed with the Halifax Hurricanes of the National Basketball League of Canada.[10][11] However, six days later, he was released by Halifax prior to the start of the 2015–16 season.[12]

On January 29, 2016, Cowels signed with the Nelson Giants for the 2016 New Zealand NBL season.[13][14] He scored 30 points or more six times during the season, including a season-high 35 points to go with 11 rebounds in a 107–97 win over the Canterbury Rams on April 30.[15] He subsequently earned Player of the Week honors for Round 8.[16] Cowels appeared in all 18 games for the Giants in 2016, averaging 25.7 points (ranked second in league),[17] 5.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game.[18] He subsequently earned NBL All-Star Five honors.[19]

On August 3, 2016, Cowels signed with the Helsinki Seagulls of Finland for the 2016–17 Korisliiga season.[20] In 45 games, he averaged 14.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.

In July 2017, Cowels joined the Memphis Grizzlies for the 2017 NBA Summer League. He later joined French team Hyères-Toulon for the 2017–18 season.[21] In 34 games for Hyères-Toulon, he averaged 15.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

In July 2018, Cowels signed with the Canterbury Rams as a short-term replacement for Xavier Thames, thus returning to New Zealand for a second stint.[22][23] He played three games for parting ways with the Rams. That same month, he signed with French team Boulazac Basket Dordogne.[24]

On September 18, 2019, he has signed with Spójnia Stargard of the PLK.[25] Cowels averaged 18.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He re-signed with the team on September 20, 2020.[26]

On June 1, 2021, he has signed with Poitiers Basket 86 of the Pro B.[27]

On June 22, 2021, he has signed with Legia Warsaw of the PLK.[28]

On July 18, 2023, he signed with Legia Warszawa of the Polish Basketball League for a second stint.[29]

Personal

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Cowels is the son of Raymond Cowels, Jr. and Wanda Jackson, and has four siblings: Rueben, Carl, Kayla and Ceara.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "42 - Raymond Cowels III". SantaClaraBroncos.com. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  2. ^ "West Coast Conference Welcomes 2009 Freshman Class". WCCSports.com. December 16, 2008. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d "Raymond Cowels Stats". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  4. ^ "Raymond Cowels III joins Den Helder Kings". Court-Side.com. July 18, 2013. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  5. ^ "2014 NBA D-League Draft Board". NBA.com. Archived from the original on May 4, 2016. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  6. ^ "Red Claws Round Out Training Camp Roster with Draft, Trades". NBA.com. November 1, 2014. Archived from the original on January 28, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  7. ^ "Red Claws Waive Four Players". OurSportsCentral.com. November 10, 2014. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  8. ^ "2015 Grizzlies Orlando Pro Summer League". NBA.com. July 2, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  9. ^ "Grizzlies defeat Magic to win 2015 Orlando Pro Summer League Championship". NBA.com. July 10, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  10. ^ "Raymond Cowels III to Halifax Hurricanes". Court-Side.com. December 17, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  11. ^ "NBLCNET's 2015-16 Team Previews: Halifax Hurricanes". nblcnet.blogspot.com.au. December 20, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  12. ^ Macdonald, Glenn (December 23, 2015). "Hurricanes' Negus Webster-Chan has big dreams". TheChronicleHerald.ca. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  13. ^ Rollo, Phillip (January 29, 2016). "Nelson Giants snap up Raymond Cowels III for upcoming National Basketball League". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  14. ^ Anderson, Niall (January 29, 2016). "Nelson Giants Sign First Import". NZhoops.co.nz. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  15. ^ "Giants vs Rams". FIBALiveStats.com. April 30, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  16. ^ "COWELLS IS ROUND EIGHT PLAYER OF THE WEEK". Basketball.org.nz. May 4, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  17. ^ Rollo, Phillip (May 30, 2016). "Giants coach Tim Fanning says National Basketball League 'tougher' in 2016". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  18. ^ "Player statistics for Ray Cowells". FoxSportsPulse.com. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
  19. ^ Egan, Brendon (June 5, 2016). "Canterbury Ram McKenzie Moore takes out NBL MVP award". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  20. ^ "Helsinki Seagulls land Devonte Upson and Ray Cowels". sportando.basketball. August 3, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  21. ^ "Ray Cowels III inks with Hyeres-Toulon". sportando.basketball. June 28, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  22. ^ NZhoops (July 6, 2018). "Import change for the Rams - Xavier Thames..." Twitter. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  23. ^ Egan, Brendon (July 8, 2018). "Southland Sharks show championship credentials on NBL road trip". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  24. ^ "Boulazac inks Raymond Cowels III, ex Canterbury". Eurobasket.com. July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  25. ^ "PGE Spojnia Stargard signs Raymond Cowels III". Sportando. September 18, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  26. ^ "Spojnia welcomes back Cowels III". Sportando. September 20, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  27. ^ "Basket (Pro B) : l'Américain Raymond Cowels ultime renfort du Poitiers Basket 86". Sportando. June 1, 2021. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  28. ^ "Legia inks Raymond Cowels". Eurobasket. June 22, 2021. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  29. ^ "Ray Cowels III is back at Legia, ex Szombathely". Eurobasket. July 18, 2023. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
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