High Five: Knights senior joins select group – Washington Daily News

Even though he doesn’t have a chainmail hanging in his garage, Hayden Bowen is a K-12 knight through and through.^thousand variety

Bowen and basketball teammate Levi Van Staalduinen are the only two seniors left from a class that started 13 years ago. After not playing much the first two years, Bowen joined the 1,000-point club late in his senior year. He is also a member of the Beta Club and a member of the school’s leadership team.

1. What do you think about scoring 1000 career points?

Hayden: If you asked me at 8^thousand class if it happened i would say it is not happening. The first two years we had a lot of older guys and our team was really good, so I hardly saw the floor. I started my sophomore year and things were going well, but I decided I wanted to really work hard to do my best in my last two years. Reaching the 1000 level made it all worth it.

2. What have you done to improve?

Hayden: I always liked basketball, but I spent a lot more time in the gym working on my shooting. I did a lot of shooting at Athletic Edge and Fitness Unlimited in Washington, some at school and a lot in my backyard. My three-point shooting has gotten a lot better and the last two seasons have been a lot more fun.

3. Describe your approach as you approach 1000 points.

Hayden: I’ve always tried to use my talent to help our team. My role changed every year as the older players left, so I had to score to help us win. I basically hit 1000 in two years so I knew it was coming. It happened during the first quarter of our conference tournament game against Albemarle at Northeast Academy. I had 14 points in the quarter and I think 1,000 came on the clock. I finished with 36 and we won, so that was pretty cool.

4. What are your plans after graduation?

Hayden: I’ve been accepted to East Carolina, but I’m waiting to hear from North Carolina. I would like to go there for mechanical engineering. I have always enjoyed being creative and designing things. I love the design process, but I’m not sure what career path I’ll choose. I need to get in, then finish here, and everything else will fall into place.

5. Are you rooting for the Wolfpack in the men’s basketball tournament?

Hayden: Yes. Me, my dad and my older brother are NC St. fans, but my mom and middle brother are UNC fans. It’s been a tough year for them, but maybe State can pull off the upset and win it all.