STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton Men’s Basketball head coach Billy Gillispie has announced the signing of Kylon Owens to join the Texan roster for 2021-22.
Owens, a 6’9 240-pound forward from Dallas, joins the Texans after one season at Blinn College and a standout prep career at South Oak Cliff High School.
“I’m excited to be a Texan,” said Owens. “Although I didn’t average much in my short time at Blinn, I believe Coach Gillispie and the rest of the coaching staff will help me elevate my game.
“There are two quotes I will forever take with me, ‘Your attitude determines your altitude’ and ‘Don’t tell me the sky is the limit because there are footprints on the moon.’ These quotes have taken me so far and I believe with this mindset, I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. Once again, I can’t wait to put that Purple and White on and represent Tarleton and the rest of Stephenville!”
Owens started his collegiate career at Blinn and played 20 games for the Buccaneers and grabbed a least five rebounds in five games, including a season-high nine boards in a win vs. Coastal Bend. Owens shot 40 percent from the floor for the season.
“Kylon is a high-character, high-quality young man and a wonderful person to be around,” said Scott Schumacher, Blinn’s Athletic Director and Head Men’s Basketball Coach. “K.O. has really good foot work and his work ethic is impeccable. He’s physical down low and can mix it up in the paint with his moves. He’s perfect for Coach Gillispie’s system. The fact that he has four years to continue to grow and develop in that system makes Kylon a really good get for Coach Gillispie and for K.O.’s career.”
At South Oak Cliff, Owens was a four-year starter for the Bears and was a first team all-district selection all four years averaging 10.7 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. In Owens’ first two years, he was named the district’s Freshman and Sophomore of the Year. As a junior and senior, he continued his growth on the court with two more first team honors as well as the District 12-5A Defensive Player of the Year. His high school career highs were 25 points and 17 rebounds.
“We are really excited about Kylon,” said Gillispie. “He is oozing with potential. He has been coached very well and should adopt to Division I basketball easily because of the things he has learned from Coach Schumacher. His size is something that we have targeted in this class. With that being said, his determination to excel is the thing that will drive him to be a very great player for the Texans and in the Western Athletic Conference.”
In addition to being a standout basketball player, Owens is also a standout in the classroom. He was a member of the National Honor Society in high school while posting a 3.7 GPA and finished in the top 15 percent of his class with a total of 60 college credits before leaving South Oak Cliff. Owens was one of the first students at South Oak Cliff High School to graduate with both a diploma and an associate degree. He also helps his parents run a Youth Conversion, a nonprofit offering after-school programs, mentorships, and youth employment training. Owens plans on majoring in criminal justice, saying “I know I will be able to change and help peoples’ lives that way.”
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