Centreville lineman Bowanko commits to Cavs

By Jay Jenkins

Published: April 24, 2008

It took all of four days for Luke Bowanko to determine his own fate.
After being offered a scholarship on Monday, the offensive tackle from Centreville High in Clifton jumped at the chance to play football at Virginia.
“I had been down to Virginia too many times to count before so I really had an idea,” Bowanko said. “It is a five-year commitment and it is a big commitment to make and I made it in four days, but me and my parents really had a good idea of what we were doing.”
The sixth commitment for the Class of 2009, all of which are from inside the state, Bowanko said he stands at 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds. He is being projected as an offensive tackle at UVa.
Bowanko, 16, credited a fearless mentality for his success at Centreville.
“I like to be physical,” he said. “All my life, all that’s really got me anything, whether it was AAU basketball with better athletes or playing football with better athletes, I was the youngest kid on the team, but what has set me apart is my mental toughness and my ability to work through adversity.
“My mental makeup is my best attribute in my mind, and I am blessed with parents that don’t spoil me and I know what I have and how easily it can be taken away.”
Bowanko’s work ethic was proven Thursday, just hours after he verbally committed to lead recruiter Anthony Poindexter and later to Virginia coach Al Groh.
“I work harder and harder every day,” he said. “Even after accepting the offer, I probably had the hardest workout of my life.”
Centreville went 6-5 last season, losing in the opening round of the playoffs to West Springfield.