Maryland’s point guard Anthony Cowan Jr. and forward Bruno Fernando announced on Monday that they will declare for the 2019 NBA Draft and hire agents.
“It has long been my dream to play basketball at its highest level in the NBA,” Fernando said in a press release. “With that being said, I am taking the pre-draft process extremely seriously. I want to ensure that I make an informed decision that will set the foundation for sustained success and prosperity throughout my playing career and beyond.”
Due to the new draft rules, Cowan and Fernando are still eligible to return to Maryland even though they hired agents. Both players will have until May 29 to make a decision whether they want to stay in the draft or cut ties with their agents and return to Maryland.
Fernando had a solid sophomore season for the Terps, averaging 13.6 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. Fernando received First Team All-Big Ten and All-Defensive Team honors. Fernando, who posted 22 double-doubles, was a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, which is given out to the nation’s best center.
Fernando has been generating first round buzz since his freshman year. The Angola native is projected to go No. 28 to the Golden State Warriors by CBSSports.com.
Cowan is a player that will most likely head back to College Park, as his name has never come up when talking about NBA prospects.
Cowan led Maryland in scoring, averaging 15.6 points and 4.4 assists per game. Cowan battled inconsistent shooting throughout the season, as he shot 39 percent from the floor and 33 percent from the three-point line.
Going through the draft process now will allow Cowan to get looked at by professional scouts and be better prepared for next year if he decides to come back to school.
“My last three seasons at Maryland have been a true blessing and I have grown so much as a player and person,” Cowan said in the same release. “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.”
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