Imagine for a moment being the best at what you do. Your performance day in and day out exceeds those three to four years older than you. Imagine playing your favorite sport, and being a member of a team that finishes 4th in the country. The college offers are rolling in, and you have your choice of where to continue your basketball career. People are flocking together to see a glimpse of this future superstar, and the gym is packed for every one of your games..
Now imagine it before you turn 15 years old.
Welcome to the life of Malina Howard, a 6 foot 5 sophomore center from Twinsburg.
Malina Howard is one of the best, and most highly recruited players not only in Ohio, but in the nation. A strong post player with a smooth lefty stroke from out to fifteen feet, she is currently averaging 18 points and 10 rebounds per game, for the top ranked team in the Cleveland area. She was ranked as the number one freshman player in the country by Rivals.com last year, and is currently ranked as the number five sophomore player in the country by All-Star Girls Report.
Howard has led Twinsburg to the state's "Sweet Sixteen" after defeating Shaker Hts 51-33 on Saturday. She will try to advance the Tigers to the regional finals and the "Elite Eight" at the Canton Civic Center tonight against Lyndhurst Brush. A win will lead the state ranked Tigers against the winner of the game between ninth ranked Canton McKinley and Green.
What has Malina Howard meant to the Twinsburg basketball program? She has brought the program from rock bottom to a legitimate chance of winning a state championship.
The Past: Three years ago, Twinsburg suffered a 2-18 season. As of today, they have a record of 22-1, which includes a 22 game winning streak since dropping their first game of the year to highly regarded Hathaway Brown.
The Present: Twinsburg has really improved their schedule since Malina has arrived. In winning 22 games in a row, Twinsburg has beaten a list of perennial powers of girls basketball: Walsh Jesuit, Regina, Dublin Coffman, Strongsville twice, Solon twice, and Hudson twice. In addition to those teams, Twinsburg participated in the annual "Classic in the Country" a four day tournament in Berlin, Ohio that attracts the top teams in the country. Howard led Twinsburg to two wins over state ranked schools. They beat Lakota West 62-48 with Howard scoring 10 points, collecting 10 rebounds, and blocking 2 shots. In their second game, the Tigers defeated Dayton Chaminade-Julienne (and UConn recruit Samarie Walker) 44-40 as Howard scored 11 points, pulled down 18 rebounds, and blocked three shots.
The Future: While Malina Howard is getting all of the attention, it is important to know what she is doing for the program and the rest of her teammates.....exposure. When the throng of college coaches watch her play, they are also watching her teammates play, and catch the eye of that college coach. She is building the program to a point where Twinsburg will be a staple team to watch year in and year out. With the tougher schedule comes more print and TV exposure, and not only more focus on the team, but the city itself.
What's next for Malina Howard? After her season ends, Malina will be one of 27 players playing for the FIBA under 16 USA national team. Malina Howard may be the biggest recruit in the state of Ohio at the moment..
And she is just a sophomore....
Comments
Wow, just a sophmore, wtg keep up the great job
Great job, Malina!
i saw her play as a juior, and wow, she's just awesome.
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