Maryland PG Anthony Cowan Jr. returning to school for senior season

After declaring for the NBA Draft last month, Anthony Cowan Jr. has withdrawn his name and will officially return to Maryland basketball for his senior season.

The decision was first reported by InsideMDSports’ Jeff Ermann on Wednesday morning, with Cowan and the program officially announcing the news in the afternoon.

Cowan led the Terps in scoring and assists last season, averaging 15.6 points and 4.4 dimes per game. He entered a shooting slump in the postseason, but still finished the year with a .393/.337/.806 shooting line. For his career, Cowan has tallied 1,375 points and 437 assists, and another productive season will bring him further up both all-time lists at Maryland.

“I want to thank Coach Turgeon for his support and the professional organizations for their feedback as I explored the NBA Draft process,” Cowan said in a press release. “I took the opportunity extremely seriously and gained many things from the experience that will benefit me both on and off the court in the future. With that being said, I am returning to the University of Maryland to complete my education and my collegiate career. I’m looking forward to finishing what I started with a great group of teammates next season.”

Both Cowan and Bruno Fernando entered the draft together in April, and Fernando, a long-projected first-round pick, announced he was remaining in the draft earlier this month. Cowan, meanwhile, didn’t receive an invite to either the NBA or G-League combine, although he still worked out with teams during the process. With his decision to return, Maryland has now had a player withdraw from the draft in four consecutive years (joining Melo Trimble, Justin Jackson and Fernando).

This finalizes a Maryland roster that’s drawn top-10 rankings in way-too-early lists and is viewed as the top challenger to Michigan State in the Big Ten. Seven of the Terps’ top eight players from last season are back, with Cowan joining returning starters Eric Ayala, Darryl Morsell and Jalen Smith (plus sixth man Aaron Wiggins). Maryland also brings in a five-man recruiting class that currently ranks No. 26 in the country, and will give Mark Turgeon perhaps his deepest team in College Park.

“Anthony made a smart decision educating himself about the draft process and gaining feedback necessary to help prepare for the future,” Turgeon said in the release. “He was able to work out for NBA teams and gain insight that will ultimately make him better. Anthony is a competitor who loves this program and wants to leave a legacy in College Park. I am excited he will complete his education and graduate with a degree in communications while leading our program next season.”