While Glendale Junior College is in the process of deciding on their new head coach for the program, and it has been a serious process, the Glendale players have had to wait as well. The top returning prospect for Glendale CC this up-and-coming season is 6-foot-7 sophomore post Darnell Corwart. After a strong freshman campaign, Cowart made an absolute believer out of me, regarding his future as a division-I college prospect.
Last season, while under the strong and committed leadership of former head coach Damin Lopez, Cowart flourished as a player and came into his own. Cowart would thrive in Lopez's offensive system, and would become an absolute force offensively around the low block. Cowart would convert offensive touches at a high rate, and become very productive as a low post scorer, while showing an ability to run the floor and make plays also from the perimeter. I became really excited about Cowart last season, after everytime I saw him play, and am now confident that this young man has what it takes to become a mid-major division-I prospect.
Last season, Cowart averaged 12 points and 8.1 rebounds per/game, while shooting 50% from the field - impressive numbers for a freshman. I expect his numbers to improve a great deal this sophomore season, especially if Coward can commit himself to a nutrition diet program and show excellent work ethic off the court.
Cowart is a strong, wide-body low post prospect that has loads of talent and skill. While he is very big in size, he has a variety of offensive skillsets and is able to make plays consistently around the basket. He enjoys physical contact and plays right through it, almost effortlessly. He is very good at drawing contact from opposing low-post defenders and finishing plays around the basket, and often times, he is converts 3-point plays as a result. Cowart has excellent low-post footwork and a nice variety of offensive moves in the post. He is also a good shooter of the basketball with range and is difficult to defend, since he can step outside and makes shots out to three-point distance on the floor.
I would like to see Cowart shoot it better from the free-throw line though, since he has such a soft and consistent touch. Last season, he shot 58% from the free-throw line, while he is a much better free-throw shooter than he has shown.
What is most impressive about Cowart, is that regardless of his large size, he runs the floor extremely well and is an excellent finisher in transition. If he can acquire a strong weight training program to get in great physical shape, this young man would change his future dramatically, and the sky could become the limit, as a result of his tremendous level of talent and skill.
I will continue to watch Cowart closely next junior college season to see how much he continues to develop. Regardless, he will be one of the top returning prospects in the ACCAC as a sophomore, and will be the anchor for the new head coach at Glendale JC.
