Dior Lowhorn puts NBA on hold until 2010

June 25, 10:47 PMSan Francisco Dons ExaminerPat Olson

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With the recent passing of the NBA Draft, one local college star who won’t be consumed with contracts and mini-camps is USF Dons power forward Dior Lowhorn. Lowhorn entered his name into the draft pool, but withdrew his name just before the June 15th deadline.

“I knew the whole time I was going to do that,” said Lowhorn, who will return for his senior season at USF. “I have no regrets.  I’m really close to finishing my degree and I’m really excited about our team next season.”

Lowhorn was invited to work out with the Portland Trail Blazers prior to the draft. “It was really a good opportunity,” recalls Lowhorn who averaged 20 points and seven redounds for USF this past season. “They did a lot of skill stuff and ran a lot of drills that I’m familiar with. I wasn’t nervous at all and they told me I performed well.” He also worked out for the Toronto Raptors. 

Lowhorn knows there are still some areas he needs to work on before the NBA Draft rolls around again next June, “I definitely want to develop my skills. Ball handling and defense are areas I’m focusing on.” Some experts suggest that Lowhorn -- who has played mostly power forward in college -- may have to adjust his game a little to play small forward at the next level. “I just want to be a basketball player,” said Lowhorn. “I’m not too worried about an exact position. Paul Millsap of the Utah Jazz is about my size and he’s doing just fine.” 

Meanwhile across the bay in Moraga, St. Mary’s point guard Patty Mills entered his name into the draft pool, but unlike Lowhorn did not elect to stay for another season in the West Coast Conference. Lowhorn noted, “Patty had a great freshman season and then was having a great sophomore year before he was injured this past year. The draft is deep at point guard, but I’m not surprised he stayed in since has a lot of international experience.” 

Mills, who was recruited out of Australia by St. Mary’s coach Randy Bennett, played in the Olympics for the Australian national team last summer in China and was taken in the second round by the Portland Trail Blazers.

So how did Lowhorn decide to enter his name into the draft in the first place? “I was curious about the draft,” answered Lowhorn. “A lot of juniors were testing the waters. I felt I was just as talented as a lot of the guys I was hearing about so I called my dad to talk it over and then I got a text from coach Walters.”

Apparently great minds think alike. USF coach Rex Walters, who just completed his first year on the Hilltop, wanted to meet with Lowhorn and help him get his name out to NBA scouts and general managers. “It’s kind of funny that the same day I was thinking about testing the waters I got this text from coach. He was really helpful with key dates and wanted to make sure I knew all about the process,” said Lowhorn. 

Walters certainly knows a little about the NBA having played in the league for seven years with the Nets, 76ers and Heat. The Dons coach has had a busy offseason for USF, signing five players in the late signing period, which really excites Lowhorn. The past couple of seasons Lowhorn a 6‘7“ forward has been asked to play center at times for the undersized Dons. That won‘t be the case this coming year as Walters recruiting class includes two centers and a power forward. 

Tomas Bruha  a 7‘0“ center from the Czech Republic was discovered at Canarias Basketball Academy in Spain and 6’10” Moustapha Diarra, a Junior College transfer from Wyoming, originally hails from France giving USF an international flavor. Toss in  6’8” Perris Blackwell from Southern California, who signed in the early fall signing period and USF has instant size around Lowhorn. “It will be nice being able to actually look up to a teammate,” stated Lowhorn. “With the added size on our roster I’ll now have some mismatches when we go up against other teams. I know other guys on our team can block shots and get redounds.” 

The Dons finished 11-19 last season, going 3-11 in the West Coast Conference.  But Lowhorn expects better things next year.

“The new guys give us lots of depth and size and it should be a good season. But they better be ready to compete and work hard. Coach Walters is very demanding. He really likes our team as a group and he works at making us better every day.”