TYREKUS "AJ" BOWMAN SLAMS ONE HOME AT ASU The senior played his last home game for the Jaguars last Saturday. Augusta State senior forward Tyrekus "AJ" Bowman has been named the Peach Belt Conference's Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. The conference officereleased the major award winners Tuesday afternoon on the eve of the PBC Tournament in Aiken, S.C.

For the first time in 17 years, the PBC named co-Players of the Year as Bowman shared top honors with USC Aiken junior Chris Commons.

A first-team All-American as a junior, Bowman is the fourth player in PBC history to repeat as Player of the Year. The senior from Tignall, was third in the PBC in scoring with 18.9 ppg., and second in rebounding with 7.5 per game. He was also fifth in the league in blocked shots, scored 20 or more points 13 times and was a two-time Player of the Week selection.

Currently, Bowman is third alltime on the ASU career scoring list with 1,664 points and fourth in the PBC in career scoring and ninth in the league all-time in blocks with 126. Named all-conference for the third consecutive season, Bowman is the first repeat Player of the Year since Kennesaw State's Terrence Hill in 2003 and 2004.

At Senior Day ceremonies in the Christenberry Fieldhouse at ASU last Saturday, AJ Bowman (center) was joined by family and friends as Head Coach Dip Metress presented him with a plaque and game jersey. "AJ has had a phenomenal career at ASU," said his head coach, Dip Metress. "He is the foundation upon which our program was built. He has developed as a player as well as a person in his four years and is one of the best players to ever play at Augusta State."

Bowman plans to complete his degree in business this summer and then look toward pursuing professional basketball opportunities. He is a 2004 graduate of W-WCHS.