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Charlotte Hornets rookie Bryce McGowens, a guard from Pendleton, S.C., is trying to make the transition to NBA player starting with minicamp ahead of Summer League play.

Days away from the start of summer league play, there’s been plenty said about Hornets’ first round draft pick Mark Williams — but what’s up with their second-round selection, Bryce McGowens?

The 6-foot-7 Pendleton, S.C., native proved to be an ample scorer in college. He averaged nearly 17 points per game and made the second most free throws in the Big 10 during his one season at Nebraska. Although he wasn’t the most efficient scorer, McGowens displayed some athleticism on defense, blocking more shots than any other Cornhuskers guard. After being drafted by the Hornets, McGowens is now gearing up for the summer league and taking the next steps to translate his game to the NBA level.

For starters, McGowens understands the amount of work it takes to just play, let alone be successful, in the league. After Tuesday's practice concluded, McGowens stayed behind to put up extra mid-range shots, and he emphasized how different the competition is from college to the pros.

“Everybody’s trying to work their way up,” he said. “Whether it’s working their way up or just competing — it’s at the highest level.”

Now, the first step in his NBA journey is to get comfortable playing at the highest level which, like most rookies, comes with difficulties.

McGowens said “getting a feel for (his) teammates” and learning the “NBA system” were among his most difficult challenges in preparation for summer league.

McGowens has a fellow guard that was once in his shoes and is helping him improve. Scottie Lewis, a second-round selection in 2021, is returning to the Hornets’ summer league team, and he has played the leadership role in McGowens’ development.

“Scottie’s definitely been in my ear a lot, helping me whether it’s defensively or have to do with running the floor,” McGowens said. “Scottie has been a big leader to me, just staying on me, and just helping me throughout the process.”

Basketball-wise, McGowens needs to elevate his ability to be the maestro of offense. Despite being Nebraska’s leading scorer, McGowens averaged just 1.4 assists per game and committed more turnovers than assists.

“I think the next step for him and something we’re continuing to work on is his ability to playmake, handling the pick and roll,” Hornets summer league head coach Jordan Surenkamp said. “With his size and length and natural ability to score the basketball, I think that’s the next layer for him. And, it’s something that as we continue to go through practice and watch film and play these games we’ll ask him to do, and he’s bought into doing that.”

Nonetheless, he is making positive impressions on the court.

“I think his natural ability to score on the open floor is really impressive,” Surenkamp said. “His length defensively causes problems for offenses, so I think those are things that stick out. He was able to score the ball at a high level in college, and I think that’s something he’ll naturally be able to do here as well.”

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