Anthony Cowan Jr. and Bruno Fernando have decided to declare for the 2019 NBA Draft. What’s next for Maryland basketball now that these decisions have been made?
Anthony Cowan Jr. came to College Park as the heir apparent to Melo Trimble at the point guard spot. They played one season together and once Trimble moved on, it was Cowan Jr’s turn to take over the team. The two-time All-Big Ten selection and 2017-18 All-Big Ten Defensive Team selection averaged 10.3 points per game and 3.7 assists per game as a freshman, 15.5 points per game and 5.1 assists per game as a sophomore and in what appears to be his final season, he averaged 15.6 points per game and 4.4 assists per game as a junior. He played and started in 99 career games.
Cowan Jr. was known for his speed and quickness when driving to the basket, he made big shots when the Terps needed him to and when he had bad games scoring wise, he found other ways to get the team involved. When he was hot on the floor, you saw him play his best basketball but when he was cold, he struggled to get in a rhythm offensively.
The biggest knocks on him at the next level will most likely be his size at six-feet, and 170 pounds in addition to his shot selection at times. There were times during this season where he struggled shooting the ball and while a player shouldn’t be afraid to keep shooting, Cowan Jr would take threes as opposed to looking for a mid-range jumper in space or taking it the ball to the hoop.
According to the Baltimore Sun’s Don Markus, Cowan Jr. will likely come back for his senior season. The evaluations and advice from NBA scouts and coaches could only help him improve. Whether he stays or goes, Maryland fans will wish him well and they recognize what he has done for the program.
Cowan said the following in the Markus piece about his tenure with Maryland basketball.
"“My last three seasons at Maryland have been a true blessing and I have grown so much as a player and person,” Cowan said. “As I enter my final year of eligibility, I feel it’s important to receive an evaluation of my game from professional teams to best prepare myself for life after college.”"