Markquis Nowell’s twitter handle, “NoRestInQuis_,” is revealing. So is the phrase, “underestimate me so I can embarrass you,” at the top of the page.
Listed at a generous 5-foot-7, Bishop Loughlin’s sophomore guard is almost always the smallest player on the floor, but he has refused to use that as a crutch. It just makes him work harder, knowing he has to perfect his jump shot and ball handling to make up for his size. Initially, he said it was a “gift and a curse,” before eliminating the curse part.
“I use it as a gift because I’m lower to the ground, and I feel like no one can stop me,” Nowell said in a phone interview. “God gave me what he gave me. Pretty much had to deal with it.”
After transferring out of New Jersey powerhouse St. Anthony of Jersey City following his freshman year, Nowell has led Loughlin to a 20-7 record and third-place regular-season finish in the Catholic league’s Brooklyn/Queens division, averaging 18.2 points per game. He scored 35 points in an upset of three-time defending city champion Christ the King on Wednesday in the Brooklyn/Queens Diocesan semifinals, and recently has picked up scholarship offers from VCU, Minnesota and Rutgers.
More impressive than his lightning quickness or dead-on 3-point accuracy, Bishop Loughlin coach Ed Gonzalez said, is his tireless work ethic. The Harlem native lives in the gym. After bad games, he will close down the school. He doesn’t get mad after poor performances — he works harder. Gonzalez recalled one day in particular when there was a torrential thunderstorm. Nowell texted him, asking to be let into the gym.
“He said, ‘Coach, somebody is getting better right now,’ ” Gonzalez recalled with a laugh. “He doesn’t like to settle for a no.”
Nowell is unlikely to grow much more. His father, Marcus, is 5-foot-9, and his older brother, Marcus Jr., is just 6-foot. He doesn’t seem concerned. He spends a lot of time watching small guards, such as Kentucky’s Tyler Ulis and the Celtics’ Isaiah Thomas.
“I feel like when I’m on the court that no one can stop me,” he said. “I don’t feel like height can determine someone’s heart.
“I try to use that to my advantage. I use that as motivation every day.”
Because of his size, Nowell has been compared with Andre Barrett and Erving Walker, undersized New York City guards who became McDonald’s All-Americans and enjoyed strong college careers. Nowell met Barrett last summer, and the former Seton Hall star offered him a few helpful tips of how to overcome his stature.
“You got to prove yourself every time because you’re not 6-foot-8,” Nowell recalled Barrett telling him. “When you have open shots, you have to make them, and you have to be efficient.”
A college coach familiar with Nowell said he on a par with Walker at the same age, while Barrett was more advanced, in terms of his basketball IQ and maturity. The coach, however, has seen a lot of improvements in Nowell recently, as he has become more of a complete player and is not looking to score at all times.
“At that size, you can’t just be scoring the ball,” the coach said. “Now that he is a more willing passer, he’s more deadly.
“He will be a high-major player. He’s best at being fearless.”
Tireless, too. Just check out his Twitter handle.
On Thursday, Iona College landed a verbal commitment from Brentwood (L.I.) senior wing Jamel Allen. He is the fifth member of coach Tim Cluess’ 2016 recruiting class.
Seton Hall hosted St. Raymond junior duo Isaiah Washington and Sidney Wilson, Christ the King junior guard Jose Alvarado, Roselle (N.J.) Catholic junior guard Nate Pierre-Louis, and Hudson Catholic (N.J.) sophomore trio Luther Muhammad, Jahvon Quinerly and Louis King for its win over Providence on Thursday night.
St. John’s coach Chris Mullin and assistant Matt Abdelmassih checked in on junior targets Jordan Tucker of Archbishop Stepinac and St. Raymond’s Wilson on Tuesday, while another assistant, Barry Rohrssen, visited with junior guard Tremont Waters of South Kent (Conn.).
Minnesota extended scholarship offers to Bishop Loughln junior guard Keith Williams and Archbishop Molloy sophomore forward Moses Brown on Thursday.