Transfer Portal Bio Blast: Taylor Bol Bowen

The college basketball transfer portal is officially open. We’ve seen some heavy player movement despite an ongoing NCAA Tournament. Kentucky is expected to again be an active shopper in the free agent market.

Mark Pope and his coaching staff will be looking for help in the frontcourt. Florida State transfer Taylor Bol Bowen quickly emerged as a target after entering the portal on March 19. Kentucky just finished hosting the ACC transfer with two years of eligibility remaining for an official visit.

The 6-foot-10 and 205-pound big emerged as one of the best shot blockers in the ACC last season. Could this be Kentucky’s next transfer addition? KSR’s Transfer Portal Bio Blast is taking a closer look at the forward who can stretch the floor on offense and protect the rim on defense.

Kentucky Transfer Portal Tracker

Standout at Brewster Academy

Taylor Bol Bowen was born in a refugee camp in Egypt and then moved to the United States when he was just two years old. Bol Bowen’s birth parents were from Sudan. As a young kid, Bol Bowen settled in Vermont and was adopted by the Bowen family.

The basketball prospect began his prep career at Middletown (R.I.) St. George’s School before settling at Wolfeboro (N.H.) Brewster Academy as a junior. It was there where Bol Bowen played on a big prep school stage and became a national recruit.

Bol Bowen was a top-100 recruit in the 2023 high school cycle who brought size, length, and athleticism to the floor. There was some skill development required but this was a player with a potential NBA future if everything came together. That led to a competitive recruitment where Bol Bowen picked FSU over Providence, Iowa, and LSU.

Starter in year two at Florida State

Taylor Bol Bowen arrived at Florida State as a true freshman for the 2023-24 school year. The young player played in 31 of 33 games for the Seminoles. Bol Bowen played 10.9 minutes per game and finished the year averaging 3.1 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in the ACC. The forward shot 80 percent at the rim on 30 attempts and posted some good rebounding metrics (9.9% offensive rebound rate and 17.8% defensive rebound rate) and defensive numbers (5% block rate, 2.9% steal rate).

That set the foundation for a bigger in year two under head coach Leonard Hamilton.

Bol Bowen started 28 of 29 games played for the Seminoles in 2025. The forward missed two ACC games. The sophomore finished the season averaging 8.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and 1.0 steals on .477/.414/.780 shooting splits in 25 minutes per game.

The sheriff of swat ❌

The paint belongs to Taylor Bol Bowen!@FSUHoops | @Seminoles | #GoNoles pic.twitter.com/ymHVbLBVzR

— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) February 20, 2025

Bol Bowen shot a high percentage from three on 2.4 attempts per game and those shooting numbers were confirmed at the free throw line (78%). The forward ranked second in the ACC in block percentage (6.5%) and posted good numbers on the defensive glass (18% defensive rebound rate).

The forward could play some at the five spot but gave Hamilton an athletic player at the four who could stretch the defense for an offense that had massive shooting difficulties (No. 283 nationally in three-point field goal percentage).

Advanced Stat Profile: Taylor Bol Bowen

Taylor Bol Bowen entered the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining. The forward just wrapped up a visit to Kentucky. USC and SMU also hosted the transfer. Alabama is scheduled to get the fourth visit. Multiple schools are lining up for a reason — Bol Bowen has size, can protect the rim, stretch the floor, and help on the defensive glass.

The transfer could also steal some minutes at the five in the right matchups. This is a versatile player.

Stat	Finish	Ranking
Block Percentage	7.1%	No. 69 nationally
Three-Point Percentage	47.1%	No. 1 in ACC (conference games only)
Rim Shot Percentage	63.4%	N/A

Taylor Bol Bowen will not give his next team much post production but this is a big that can hit a spot-up jumper, clean the defensive glass, and protect the rim. The shot blocking and shooting were both really impressive. There would be some size concerns but Bol Bowen could give Kentucky some needed athletic juice at the four.

The ACC transfer can immediately make an impact on defense and provide floor spacing on offense.