Little Chute's Lowe drawing Division I attention

APPLETON - Kenneth Lowe averaged 13 points and six rebounds for Little Chute last season, but those numbers will likely be on the rise next season.

Lowe's stock is ascending after some impressive games with his AAU team this summer and is drawing Division I attention. The Little Chute senior scored 27 points in a recent AAU game and after that game he received a scholarship offer.

With teammate Turner Botz already committed to play at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay after next season, the Mustangs have another player who likely will sign a scholarship with a Division I program.

A year ago, Lowe couldn’t have predicted this.

"A couple years ago, last year, wasn't really in the picture,” Lowe said. “I didn't think it'd be like this untill AAU started and then they started calling. It blew up a lot better."

Lowe always showed glimpses of promise, including an impressive alley-oop dunk at the state tournament in 2011, but now he's delivering on a consistent basis. His play this summer in AAU has drawn scholarship offers from Steve Alford and New Mexico and San Jose State.

"It's been very fun,” Lowe said. “The guys, my teammates have been really great. My mom's proud, my dad's proud and it's been huge."

Why is Lowe such an intriguing prospect? Pretty much because he can do everything. During last season, Lowe was an effective post player, but inconsistent on the perimeter.

That has now changed. Lowe’s ball handling is better, his outside shot is better and he said one of his keys to his improvement this summer is he’s playing harder.

Little Chute coach Mickey Martin likes what he sees from his forward.

"Athletically, he's just really good,” Martin said. “At 6-7, he's long and has athleticism and he can handle the ball. He's really improved his outside game and really his post play. The fact he can shoot the three, he can take people off the dribble and get to the basket and finish."

Lowe, who has his way on defense blocking shots and grabbing rebounds, said he has received interest from Green Bay and UW-Milwaukee, but no official offers yet. He said he wouldn’t mind playing with Botz another four years.

“Yeah, that’d be great,” said Lowe, who added Green Bay coach Brian Wardle was one of the first coaches to show interest in him. “They have a good program up there.”

In a recent summer league game against Appleton East, Lowe scored off the dribble, in the post and on the fast break. He also created offense for other players and recorded assists.

His game has evolved to the point where he can take what the defense offers and still make the play. His improvement makes you wonder what other college teams will come calling on Lowe, who will be in Louisville, Kent., starting Wednesday for more AAU action.

"If Steve Alford and his staff think he can play at New Mexico, in that conference, I'm sure other people around who are going to see the same thing that they those guys do,” Martin said. “They know what's going on."

Follow Doug Ritchay on Twitter @dougritchay

doug.ritchay@wluk.com