High-scoring NCAA Division-II basketball guard Camron McDowell is visiting KU
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Top Div. II scorer Cam McDowell visited KU after strong 27.3 PPG season
- McDowell drew interest from multiple programs after withdrawing NBA draft
- KU men's roster totals 14 players due to ongoing self-imposed scholarship cut
The second-leading scorer in NCAA Division-II men’s basketball will complete an official recruiting visit to Kansas on Saturday, The Star has confirmed.
Camron McDowell — a 6-foot-6, 180-pound senior-to-be combo guard from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Oklahoma, who averaged 27.3 points per game in 2024-25 — visited Utah on March 30. He also has heard from SMU, Cincinnati, Mississippi State, Cal, Rutgers, Georgia Tech, Seton Hall, UAB and others.
The Griffin, Georgia, native, who is a left-handed shooter, started his career at the University of Georgia, playing in seven games in 2021-22 before moving on to Jacksonville State, where he played in eight games in 2022-23.
McDowell had some huge scoring games this past season, his second at NW Oklahoma State: He scored 44 points versus Southeastern Oklahoma, 41 against Arkansas Tech and 38 versus both Henderson State and Arkansas-Monticello.
He finished the season hitting 245 of 478 shots for 51.3%. He was 80-of-205 from 3 for 39.0%. He cashed 166 of 199 free throws for 83.4% and also chipped in 4.7 rebounds per game. He had 77 assists total to 83 turnovers with a team-leading 53 steals.
McDowell blocked 19 shots, second-best mark on his team. He hit a season-high six 3s three different times as well as five 3s on three occasions.
Overall, he logged 36.3 minutes per game in 27 games (26 starts).
His 27.3 points per game trailed nationally only Adrian McIntyre of Westmont, who averaged 27.9 ppg.
McDowell was a 3-star prospect at McEachern High School in Powder Springs, ultimately choosing coach Tom Crean’s Georgia Bulldogs over Virginia Tech, Xavier, Georgia Tech and Florida State.
His Team Dickerson AAU coach, Demond Stephens said in 2021 after the commitment to Georgia: “They (Bulldogs) are getting probably the best defensive on-ball big guard in our state who can also score and shoot from deep. He has a passion to win. He is all about winning. I just think they are getting a steal. A big guard with athleticism.”
Greenlight Media recently referred to McDowell as a “multi dimensional scorer that can play on and off the ball.”
He initially placed his name in the 2025 NBA Draft but removed his name prior to the deadline to retain collegiate eligibility.
Of McDowell, NoCeilingsNBA.com wrote: “Here is an interesting player! After stints at the University of Georgia and Jacksonville State, Camron McDowell has emerged as a tantalizing future bet. Playing at Northwest Oklahoma State this past season, Camron averaged over 27 PPG and shot 39% from deep. A lefty, McDowell has shown a polished approach in his scoring, ranking in the 91st percentile as a pick-and-roll operator, in the 92nd percentile on spot-ups, and in the 92nd percentile on handoffs.
“Defensively, Camron did well in Division II, so he’ll draw a lot of interest in a workout setting. Worst case, he will make himself more marketable in the transfer portal. A serious name to monitor.
McDowell was asked about his dunking ability by georgiadogs.com: “I feel like it’s a good adrenaline rush. Once you can do everything — dunk, shoot 3s, shoot mid-ranges — it opens your game up a lot. I feel like attacking the rim, it really opens your game up. I like it.”
Known for his athleticism, the 22-year-old McDowell played football as a youngster.
“Quarterback and wide receiver — but I just felt like basketball would take me farther. I had a different love for basketball. Football, yes, but basketball was my escape. I could go play basketball and just feel great,” McDowell said.
He is no relation to KU redshirt sophomore guard Jamari McDowell.
KU has brought in three players from the NCAA transfer portal for the 2024-25 season: Melvin Council Jr. (St. Bonaventure), Jayden Dawson (Loyola-Chicago) and Tre White (Illinois). KU in the recruiting class of 2025 added freshmen in Darryn Peterson, Corbin Allen, Samis Calderon and Bryson Tiller.
KU returns scholarship players in Elmarko Jackson, Jamari McDowell and Flory Bidunga. Walk-ons who have been “grandfathered in” by a recent court ruling in a case involving the NCAA are: Justin Cross, Wilder Evers, Will Thengvall and Noah Shelby for a total of 14 players.
The walk-ons do not count against the new limit of 15 scholarship players as set by the NCAA. KU will have a maximum of 14 scholarship players on the roster this year as it completes a self-imposed NCAA penalty reducing its scholarship totals by one for a three-year period.
KU football freshman Jaden Nickens has said he would play two sports at KU. If that happens, he would count against the scholarship total.
This story was originally published June 13, 2025 at 9:12 PM.
