Markquis Nowell

Markquis Morris Nowell (born December 25, 1999) is an American professional basketball player for Raptors 905 of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Kansas State Wildcats, and previously the Little Rock Trojans. He holds the Division I NCAA Tournament single-game assists record, with 19 vs. Michigan State in the 2023 Sweet Sixteen.

High school career
Nowell began his high school career at St. Anthony High School in Jersey City, New Jersey, under Hall Of Fame Coach Bob Hurley Sr. After receiving minimum playing time after his freshman year he decided to transfer schools to Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School for his sophomore and junior year, playing alongside Julian and Justin Champagnie. Nowell averaged 19.9 points and 8.1 assists per game as a junior. He transferred to The Patrick School for his senior season and averaged 10.9 points per game despite missing a month with injuries. He received no Division 1 offers out of high school before getting a look from Little Rock.

College career
As a freshman, Nowell averaged 11.1 points, 4.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. He averaged 17.2 points, 4.9 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game as a sophomore. Nowell was named to the First Team All-Sun Belt. He was suspended for two games in January 2020 due to disciplinary reasons. As a junior, Nowell averaged 14.3 points, 6.0 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game but opted out of the season in February 2020. Following the season, he transferred to Kansas State.

Nowell averaged 12.4 points and team-highs of 5.0 assists and 2.2 steals per game in the 2021–22 season. He was one of two players to return to Kansas State after Jerome Tang was hired as coach to replace Bruce Weber. On January 10, 2023, Nowell was named Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association after scoring a career-high 36 points to go with nine assists and three steals in a 116–103 win against Texas. He was named to the First Team All-Big 12 as well as the All-Defensive Team. During the NCAA tournament, Nowell scored 17 points and recorded a then career-high 14 assists during a 77–65 first round win over Montana State. On March 19, Nowell scored 27 points and dished out 9 assists in a Second Round win over the Kentucky Wildcats. On March 23, during a Sweet 16 matchup against Michigan State, while playing with a sprained ankle, along with 20 points and 5 steals, Nowell recorded 19 assists in an overtime win, setting a new NCAA Tournament record for assists in a single game. On March 25, Nowell scored 30 points and 12 assists in a losing effort against Florida Atlantic in the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament.

Toronto Raptors / Raptors 905 (2023–present)
After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, Nowell signed a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors on July 3, 2023. On July 15, 2023, Nowell recorded 17 points, 12 assists and 3 rebounds in a 108–101 summer league win against the Golden State Warriors. On March 4, 2024, he was waived by Toronto and two days later, he joined Raptors 905.