Owens boarded a plane in the summer of ‘98 and headed for a mapdot called Scottsbluff, Neb., home of Western Nebraska Junior College. WNJC was supposed to be the spot where Owens could bulk up his academic credentials and bulk up a body that could fit through a keyhole in his younger days.

Owens, now 6-6, 190 pounds, has apparently accomplished both missions. His dream of playing Division I ball became reality on Wednesday, when he accepted a scholarship offer from coach Jason Rabedeaux’s University of Texas at El Paso Miners.

UTEP once won the Division I national title. Then known as Texas Western, the Miners took the title in 1966 under Don “Bear” Haskins, beating Kentucky in one of the more significant games in college basketball history.

Now, Owens hopes to make his own history. He’ll be available for the 2000-01 season and will have two years of eligibility.

Owens’ basketball career got rolling under former Salisbury coach Sam Gealy. Then it got a boost from the guidance and instruction of coach Dave “Soupy” Campbell at Western Nebraska. Campbell is the same coach whom Gealy once entrusted with a Salisbury kid named Bobby Jackson. Gealy and Campbell go back a long way. Campbell is a graduate of Catawba College, class of ‘66.

Jackson’s long and winding road led from Gealy to Campbell to two years at the University of Minnesota, and ultimately to his selection in the first round of the NBA draft in ‘97.

Owens, based on his sophomore stats at Western Nebraska, is still a long, lean triple-double waiting to happen. His stat sheet-stuffing averages this past season were 13.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks. Owens shot 49 percent from the field, 37 percent from the 3-point line and 67 percent on free throws.

Owens scored 25 points against Utah Valley State and topped the 20-point mark six times. He had high games of 11 rebounds and 12 assists.

Owens improved on all his numbers from his freshman year, helping Western to a 23-12 campaign. Western just missed the national junior college tournament when it was eliminated in a two-point loss.

“Leonard stepped up and did big things for us,” said Campbell. “When we needed the ball, he’d come up with a steal or a block. He understands the game and anticipates very well.”

Owens was a two-time All-County player at Salisbury and is eighth on the Hornets’ all-time scoring list with 915 points. Owens averaged 16.5 ppg as a senior and 15.2 ppg as a junior. He was Sam Moir Christmas Tournament MVP his senior year, leading the Hornets past South Rowan 55-52 in a memorable final.