Maryland senior point guard Anthony Cowan Jr.’s goal of winning a Big Ten title or going on a long NCAA basketball tournament run remains unfulfilled. Instead, early exits have been common.
Cowan will have another shot in March, and expectations are high with Maryland ranked among the best teams in the country. Even so, Cowan will leave a lasting legacy either way. He’s on pace to finish among Maryland’s all-time top-10 scorers. It’s an impressive list that includes Len Bias, Juan Dixon, John Lucas, and Tom McMillen. All four were NBA first-round picks.
“It would be a blessing just to be able to finish with some of the best that have come through the program,” Cowan says.
The 22-year-old declared for the NBA draft in May, but decided to return to school to chase a title and improve his stock for next year’s draft. He’s been nothing but consistent at Maryland. The Bowie resident has averaged in double figures every year and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors last season after averaging 15.6 points and 4.4 assists per game.
The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Cowan has started every game in his career and is aiming to become only the second player to do that during head coach Mark Turgeon’s nine years. Turgeon has praised Cowan for his outstanding leadership with Maryland’s youthful roster.
We recently talked to Cowan about playing so close to home, his leadership role, and the lofty expectations for the 2020 Terps.
What does it mean for you to play at Maryland since you grew up in the area?
It means lot. I grew up 15 or 20 minutes away. All my friends and family come to games and see me play. I have been a huge fan of some Maryland players and it’s definitely an honor to put on a Terps’ uniform.
Why did you return to school after declaring for the draft?
Everybody wants to get to the next level and realize their dream by playing in the NBA. I wanted to make sure I leave a lasting and winning legacy at Maryland, so people will remember my name. That’s what I am trying to do right now.
After you finish your Maryland career, how exciting will it be to play professionally?
It will be super exciting. I not only want to continue playing basketball, but also get paid for doing it. That will be a great thing and I will be very fortunate for that. I got a sense of what it’s like. My former teammates and my friends tell me about the good and bad of playing at the next level.
Maryland has been ranked in the top-10 this season. Do you and the team feel more pressure to have a breakout season?
Yes. I definitely think we invite the pressure. We are a team of competitors, so we want everyone’s best shot. I love the attention. You have to do it while it lasts. You are only going to be a college basketball player one time in your life, so you have to take advantage of it.
How would you describe your leadership style? Since you’re the team’s only senior and 10 freshmen joined the team the past two years, have you had to step up?
I am not as loud as a lot of other leaders, but I definitely talk a lot. The thing about me is I lead by example. I am a big believer in if the people you are leading see you do something and doing it with a lot of effort, they will do the same thing. A lot of the freshmen didn’t know what they were doing, so I had to make sure I was a better leader.
How would describe your relationship with coach Mark Turgeon?
We have a great relationship. I have known him for a long time—ever since I was a sophomore in high school. Our relationship grows every year. He trusts me running the team.
How important has he been in your development?
Huge. He was also a small guard who had a successful college career (at Kansas). He has taught me a lot in terms of leadership, different skills, and things a player with our height should do as a point guard. He definitely has taught me a lot.
Once you finish basketball, what do you want to do for a career?
I already graduated with a degree in communications. I studied sports broadcasting. I would really like to be a broadcaster and I want to stay in sports. I think sports broadcasting is something I can do.
Do you have a pregame routine?
I listen to music. That’s my routine. I usually listen to my cousin, Marty Maw, who is a Hip-Hop artist. He is from Bowie as well. I listen to him until I have to go onto the court.
What do you do to relax after a game?
I usually go back to my room and play video games. I am a big fan of video games. I also talk to my teammates. I am a real boring guy. I don’t do anything out of the ordinary. I just try to calm my body down.
What do you for fun when you are not playing basketball?
The benefit of going to Maryland is that you are close to home. It allows me to see friends and family and play with my French bulldog Drizzy.
What charities have you devoted time to?
One that sticks out the most to me is a food drive, called SOME (So Others Might Eat), we did in Washington, D.C., to help out the homeless. It was a great time and the team genuinely wanted to be there. I have also done Special Olympics every year I have been here. It’s a great feeling to see the kids. I can put basketball away for a while.
