Anthony Cowan Jr. didn’t bother watching the McDonald’s All-American Game selection show last week. The St. John’s senior guard had a gut feeling that his name wouldn’t be listed among the 24 players chosen for the prestigious annual basketball showcase, yet another snub in the mind of one of the country’s top prospects.
“I already knew in my head it wouldn’t turn out good,” Cowan said.
So last week, with the Cadets facing two teams featuring McDonald’s All-Americans, the All-Met saw an opportunity. It began with him scoring a game-high 19 points in a win Tuesday against a Paul VI team led by VJ King and ended with Cowan tying a career-high with 40 points during Saturday’s victory against Kobi Simmons and St. Francis (Ga.).
“Honestly, I felt disrespected,” said Cowan, who has signed to play at Maryland next year. “Just seeing the guards that got picked over me and not realizing why they got picked over me, that carried me throughout the game. It wasn’t anything personal against [Simmons or King]. It’s toward everybody that doubted the fact that I should be in that game. I saw it as a statement game.”
During the 68-52 win, which took place in Atlanta at the Peachtree Corners Invitational, Cowan splashed eight three-pointers and hit all 14 of his free-throw attempts. The 40 points matches the career high he set in a win versus O’Connell last year, the same season that the proverbial chip on his shoulder began to grow.
That chip has driven his training, where he’s expanded his skillset as a point guard and polished his shooting touch. It’s also intensified his drive to lead St. John’s to its first WCAC title since 2000, an arduous feat that’s within reach for a Cadets team currently tied atop the conference standings.
“If I had the answer for why I’m overlooked, I would change it,” Cowan said. “At this point, it’s not in my control. But it pushes me, in every workout and every game, to go out and play my hardest.”
NUMBER CRUNCH: 17.8
Inches of snow measured for the D.C. area at National Airport following this weekend’s blizzard, tying it for the fourth-largest snowstorm in D.C. history. The final total could end up being more after it was learned that those making the measurements did not follow observing guidelines in the process of calculating the totals.
BREAKFAST LINKS
- A bill recently put before Virginia’s General Assembly could alter the voting structure for the Virginia High School League. Read more about it here.
- ICYMI: The Post’s Rick Maese wrote an intriguing piece about a New Mexico high school football player whose parents sued to get him back on the field afte rhe suffered a concussion.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR TODAY
Clean-up
With the snow finally behind us and schools as well as the federal government closed Monday, now it’s time for everyone to dig out of their homes and neighborhoods. Be safe!
