Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he played for Dobbins Technical High School and was a McDonald's All-American in 1979.

[1] Owens played collegiately for the Rhode Island Rams, where he ranks seventh on the school's all-time scoring list.

His rights were traded to the Philadelphia 76ers during training camp that year and he was one of the team's last preseason cuts.

Owens worked as a juvenile probation officer for the City of Philadelphia for fourteen years.

[2] In 2004, he joined the La Salle Explorers as an assistant coach and served that role for fourteen years.