Brenden Stowers patiently sat on the bleachers and waited for the women’s basketball team to take care of SIUE Jan. 11, not knowing a little boy sitting across the court was staring at him with starry eyes.

The little boy said he wanted to play just like Stowers when he grows up.

Stowers, the 6-foot-2 senior guard from Independence, Ky., has helped the men’s basketball team to a No. 17 national ranking in Division II this season. He scored a career-high 35 points in a win over Saint Joseph’s College, placing him in the 1,000 point club along with his father Jeff. They are the only father-son duo to reach 1,000 points for their career in NKU history.

” I didn’t know until after the game that I scored 1,000 for my career,” said Stowers. “It felt good, because I had achieved something my dad did and he is considered one of best to play for NKU. I was more happy we won the game though.”

His father’s career influenced him to choose NKU after graduating from high school.

“He [Jeff] left his impact on NKU and I feel I can follow in his footsteps,” said Stowers. “He wanted what was best for me. He loves the NKU community and wanted me in it. Anytime you get a chance to play at the next level you should take it. NKU was a great choice for me.”

Stowers became introduced to the game of basketball by his father growing up. His father also impacted the way Stowers grew as a person.

“He coached me in every sport I played. He is the one who put the ball in my hands,” said Stowers. “He always had confidence in me. Even when I didn’t, he did.”

Joining his dad in the 1,000 point club was a tremendous accomplishment for Stowers, who has only started one game this season for the Norse. Something he’s not used to doing, but has accepted it.

“At first I didn’t know what to do because I was used to starting all the time,” he said, “but now I like coming off the bench better than starting.”

Stowers has been a force of the bench, leading the team in scoring with over 15 points per game. His role as the sixth man has helped the Norse to an overall record of 15-3 and 9-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

“We have all the tools and players to win it all, if we can stay together and just play hard game in and game out,” said Stowers. “Everything we need to win, we already have, we just need to put it together and we’ll be fine.”

Although he would like to end his career at NKU winning a NCAA Division II championship, Stowers would like to be remembered for doing more years from now.

“I want to be remembered for getting the most out of what I had. I worked hard and stayed dedicated,” said Stowers. “I want to be thought of as good as my dad. That people enjoyed watching the team play while I was here.”