Many people have heard the expression “it runs in the family,” but for Missouri Southern guard Skyler Bowlin, it has never been more true. Bowlin, a freshman, from Paragould, Ark, comes from a family where basketball runs deep.

“Both of my parents played college basketball at West Alabama,” Bowlin said.

“My dad also played baseball and was almost drafted. Now, both of my parents are coaches and so is my grandfather.”

Bowlin, a physical education major, graduated from Greene County Tech High school with a school record for most three pointers made in a half, with seven.

“It was really cool to set the record, especially since I set it during a rival game,” Bowlin said. “It made me feel really good.”

In high school, Bowlin played baseball for a year and ran cross country for two years. However, basketball is where he shined. Bowlin was a three year letter winner, averaging 16 points per game. He also averaged three steals and four assists a game his senior year.

He was named All-County his sophomore and junior season and All-Conference his senior season. Bowlin, whose high school coach was his father, appeared in the Arkansas 5A State tournament his junior year, leading his team to a quarterfinal appearance.

With an appearance in the state tournament, Bowlin saw a lot of interest from college scouts, but ultimately signed early with Southern.

“Southern recruited me early and really stayed on me the hardest,” Bowlin said.

“I really wanted to sign early so I could spend my senior year focusing on winning the state championship.”

His senior year, he did just that. Bowlin led Greene County Tech to yet another state tournament and to a win in the championship game. He also received the Class 5A State Tournament Most Valuable Player honor.

“It was a big day for my family,” Bowlin said. “To win the state championship was huge, but to win the M.V.P honor was even more awesome. A lot of people don’t know it, but my dad was also the state M.V.P his senior year in high school.”

So far, in his first season at Southern, Bowlin leads the team in three-pointers made, with 35. He also leads the team in steals and is second in assists with 68. Bowlin is also fourth on team in scoring averages with 9.8.

Bowlin has many things he would like to accomplish at Southern over the next few years, but it all revolves around four big goals.

“I really want to keep working hard, try harder to become a leader, keep winning games, and become better every year,” Bowlin said.