Austen Rowland

A native of Hyattsville, Maryland, Rowland began his college career at the University of Delaware in 1999. He played three seasons for the Fightin' Blue Hens, averaging 4.1, 11.6, and 9.8 points per game, respectively.[2] While Delaware had success during his tenure, Rowland made the decision to transfer to Lehigh after his junior year in 2001–02.[3] He had to redshirt the 2002–03 season, and then became eligible to play his final collegiate season in 2003–04.[2]

Rowland made an immense impact in his lone season at Lehigh. He averaged 15.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.9 steals per game while leading the Mountain Hawks to their first-ever Patriot League regular season and conference tournament championships.[2][4] He led the league in games played (31), field goals made (167) and attempted (413), points per game, and total points (480).[2] Rowland also finished in the top five in 14 other statistical categories.[2] He was named the 2004 Patriot League tournament's Most Valuable Player after leading Lehigh to an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament.[5] They would go on to the lose the 16-seed play-in game to Florida A&M.

For his outstanding personal season, Rowland was named to the All-Patriot League first team and was its player of the year, the first from Lehigh to earn that honor.[5] He earned an Associated Press honorable mention nod as an All-American. In 2015, he was selected to be on the Patriot League's 25th Anniversary Team as one of the greatest 25 players in league history to that point.[5]

Rowland went undrafted in the ensuing 2004 NBA draft. He instead emabarked upon a professional career that spanned 15 seasons and took him to numerous countries around the world.[6] His professional single game career highs were 31 points (three times), 18 assists (April 21, 2007), and 6 steals (two times).[7] After the 2018–19 season Rowland retired from playing professional basketball.[6]