5-star NaVorro Bowman Jr., son of ex-NFL star, picks UConn hoops

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  Jeff BorzelloSep 10, 2026, 02:53 PM ET

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  • Basketball recruiting insider.
  • Joined ESPN in 2014.
  • Graduate of University of Delaware.

Five-star guard NaVorro Bowman Jr., the son of former NFL standout NaVorro Bowman, has committed to UConn, he told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Thursday, giving the Huskies the highest-ranked committed player in the 2027 class.

Bowman Jr. took an official visit to UConn last weekend; his trip to Storrs was expected to be the first of a four-visit September that also included trips to Illinois, Texas and Arizona. But Dan Hurley and the Huskies were able to secure his commitment before he could take the rest of his visits, forcing the other programs to pivot elsewhere.

Ranked No. 12 in the SC Next 100 for the class of 2027, Bowman Jr. has been a star on the grassroots and international circuits for the past several months. He was one of the elite scorers on the Nike EYBL circuit in the spring and summer, averaging 20.5 points in 20 games with Team Why Not, ranking fifth among all players with 10 or more games. Bowman contributed 3.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists, while shooting just over 33% from 3-point range.

He also helped lead USA Basketball to the gold medal at the FIBA U17 Men's World Cup in Turkey in July, averaging 11.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists.

Bowman Jr., who attends Notre Dame High School (California), is just the third five-star 2027 prospect to announce his commitment at this point in the cycle and the first top-15 recruit to make his decision. He's Hurley and UConn's first commitment in 2027, but immediately gives the Huskies a player around which they can build their recruiting class.

They should have one of the elite backcourts in college basketball this season in Silas Demary Jr. and Braylon Mullins, but there's a good chance neither player is in Storrs for the 2027-28 campaign. Program stalwart Solo Ball will return after his redshirt season, while incoming freshman Junior Country is drawing plenty of early buzz. Those two should combine with Bowman Jr. to form a talented perimeter group.

Bowman's father spent eight seasons as a linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers before finishing his career with the Oakland Raiders, earning All-Pro honors on four occasions and playing in three Pro Bowls. He stepped down as the Los Angeles Chargers linebackers coach after last season in order to be more involved with his son.

"His son is an elite hooper," Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz said at the time. "He wants to be a dad and help guide him through the process of college and selecting a college."