Old Mill Graduate Emerges As NBA Prospect

As a 6-foot-7 high school senior, Travis Hyman wasn’t courted by big-name college basketball programs.

In fact, the Annapolis native and 2005 Old Mill High School graduate says he received no offers from Division I colleges but smaller college programs expressed an interest instead.

“It wasn’t that many,” Hyman said, who noted that Lebanon Valley College and Allegany College of Maryland were among the interested schools.

However, after a brief stint at Anne Arundel Community College, Hyman landed at Division II Bowie State University in Prince George’s County.

“They gave me a full scholarship,” said Hyman, now a 7-foot, 245-pound center. “I took it.”

Hyman, a rising senior, helped lead Bowie State to a 23-6 record last season including a 16-2 conference mark. The Bulldogs finished the 2010-2011 campaign unbeaten at home with a 13-0 record.

Hyman averaged 15.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per game and registered 104 blocked shots.

“I don’t think that there’s another big man that can guard him one-on-one when he bangs and plays up to his potential,” said Jay Gavin, a rising senior guard at Bowie State.

In a game against Lincoln University, Hyman recorded 32 points, 16 rebounds and blocked seven shots to lead Bowie State to an 83-62 win over the Pennsylvania school.

“When he plays like that,” said Gavin, “there are not many teams that are going to beat us because we have a collection of guards that can also play really well, too. We have an inside presence like that it makes it so much easier for us to go inside-out.”

As a sophomore during the 2009-2010 campaign, Hyman earned the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Defensive Player of the Year honor.

Hyman has been honing his skills this summer by playing in the Nike Pro City League against the area’s top competition. The league formerly known as the Jabbo Kenner League is held annually at McDonough Gymnasium on the Georgetown University campus and attracts local professional and major college players including NBA types.

Brandon Jennings (Milwaukee Bucks), Greg Monroe (Detroit Pistons), Jeff Green (Boston Celtics), Greivis Vasquez (Memphis Grizzlies) and Ty Lawson (Denver Nuggets) were among the players who competed in the Nike Pro City League this year.

“I just want to play against a higher level to make me better,” said Hyman who helped lead Team Takeover to the division title with a 6-2 record during the regular season.

Hyman competed on a team with Division I players such as Chris Wright (Georgetown), Lasan Kromah (George Washington), Chris Braswell (Charlotte) and DeWayne Jackson (Morgan State).

“A lot of people are really surprised that [Hyman] plays at Bowie State, but he’s a force,” said Team Takeover Coach Butch Hazel. “He’s going to surprise some people on the national level I think.”

Hyman is catching the attention of NBA scouts from the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder and is expected to garner more attention this season.

However, with one more season remaining at Bowie State, the 7-foot NBA prospect has high expectations entering the 2011-2012 campaign.

“We’re trying to win a CIAA championship and a national championship,” Hyman said.