Markquis Nowell

Markquis Nowell's Biography

Markquis Morris Nowell, an exceptional American pro basketballer, is currently a significant part of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers lineup under the NBA G League. Born on a Christmas day in 1999, Nowell’s career in basketball took a leap first at college level before he joined the league of professional players, achieving fame and raising eyebrows over his impressive stats on the court. His journey in college basketball took off with the Little Rock Trojans before switching to Kansas State Wildcats where he marked his name in the history books by setting the Division I NCAA Tournament single-game assists record. This record was achieved when he delivered 19 assists against Michigan State in the dynamic 2023 Sweet Sixteen.

The essence of Nowell’s early basketball career was shaped during his high-school years spent at St. Anthony High School, Jersey City, New Jersey. He was prepared and trained under the legendary Coach Bob Hurley Sr. Possessing an unwavering desire to maximize his playing time and develop his skills, Nowell switched to the Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in his sophomore and junior year. It was a productive switch as he played in the company of Julian and Justin Champagnie, and his performance went up a notch as he flaunted an average of 19.9 points and 8.1 assists per game during his junior year. The Patrick School was his next destination in his senior year where he maintained an average of 10.9 points per game, despite being sidelined by injuries for about a month.

Stepping into his college life, Nowell found his first opportunity at Little Rock after being overlooked for Division 1 right after high school. His debut season saw him average 11.1 points, 4.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. His sophomore year saw an improvement in the averages, shooting to 17.2 points, 4.9 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game, which earned him a spot in the First Team All-Sun Belt. The sway of Nowell’s college career had its lows too; he faced a two-match suspension due to disciplinary issues in January 2020. Following this, he boasted averages of 14.3 points, 6.0 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game in his junior year but decided to opt out midway through the season. After the term, he decided to transfer to Kansas State.

Nowell’s performance at Kansas State reached greater heights. He averaged 12.4 points, 5.0 assists and 2.2 steals per game in the 2021–22 season, featuring as a team favorite. On January 10, 2023, Nowell was named the Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, following a splendid performance with 36 points, nine assists and three steals in a victorious match against Texas. He clinched the First Team All-Big 12 title and was also part of the All-Defensive Team. During the NCAA tournament, Nowell impressed with 17 points and a career-high of 14 assists helping the team with a first-round win over Montana State. This level of remarkable performances continued throughout the tournament with highlights including a record-breaking feat of 19 assists in the Sweet 16 against Michigan State that solidified his place in NCAA history.

As destiny would have it, Nowell went undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft compelling him to sign a dual-contract with the Toronto Raptors on July 3, 2023. Adding to his list of achievements, Nowell posted an impressive professional debut with 17 points, 12 assists and 3 rebounds in the summer league win against Warriors. However, Toronto waived him in March 2024, and he moved to play for Raptors 905. By October 1, 2024, Nowell had relocated once again, this time signing with the Houston Rockets, only to be waived again shortly after. Despite these setbacks, he continued to press on, finding a spot with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers by October 27th of the same year. Nowell’s journey from high school to the professional stage illustrates his resilience, tenacity and dedication to his passion for basketball.