Francis Rowe's pin-point accuracy from long range has been a huge part of the success of the UNBC Northern Timberwolves for the past four seasons.
Next year, there could be two sharp-shooting Rowes in the backcourt.
Elliot Rowe, the younger brother of Francis, is in town this weekend for a UNBC men's basketball identification camp at the Northern Sport Centre. Elliot, a point guard from Victoria's Mount Douglas secondary school, plays the game much like Francis and that could bode well for the Timberwolves as they step out of the college ranks into the Canada West conference of Canadian Interuniversity Sport.
"He does a lot of similar things -- he actually looks a lot like Francis too," UNBC head coach Todd Jordan said with a chuckle. "He's a little smaller than Francis but he's pretty quick and he makes big shots at big times. He's got a nice little pull-up jump shot and sees the floor reasonably well. He's a pretty good little player. It's more about seeing how he plays against bigger competition."
Jordan made a trip to Vancouver Island around Christmas time and saw the five-foot-nine Elliot play. During the 2011-12 high school season, Elliot was picked as a tournament all-star or MVP on multiple occasions and was also a Victoria city all-star. Travis Paterson, a reporter for the Victoria News, described the younger Rowe as "possibly the premier guard on the Island."
At the triple-A provincial championship, held in Langley in mid-March, Elliot's Mount Douglas Rams finished eighth out of 16 teams. In five games, he hit for 92 points (average of 18.4 per game), good for 14th place in tournament scoring. In those five outings, Elliot drained a dozen three-pointers. And he did more than just score. He also dished out 25 assists, seventh-most in the event.
Francis has never had the chance to play on the same team as Elliot, who recently turned 18, so he's excited about that possibility for next season. As for Elliot's game, big bro considers it very well-rounded.
"I think he does a lot of things really well," said Francis, who was the MVP of the PACWEST Athletic Association provincial championship tournament in early March. "I think he shoots the ball really well and I think he's a really smart player on the floor. Those are both things that any team can use."
When the Rowe boys play one-on-one in the summer, Francis has the edge -- at least for now.
"I think I've got the bead on him for a little while but I'm sure he'll catch up in no time," Francis said.
Another UNBC prospect on the court this weekend is Vernon product Travis Beck, a six-foot-six post. Beck didn't play this past season but has previous experience at the Canada West level with the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack of Kamloops.
Today's session at the NSC goes from noon to 3 p.m.
