Former NGU basketball star going pro overseas
Sydney Taylor, Staff Writer
photo courtesy of ngu athletics
Former NGU basketball player Roderick Howell has worked his way up to a semi-professional level of basketball, and that just happens to have taken him halfway across the world.
Howell recently signed a contract with the Leicester Warriors of England. The team plays in the English Basketball League Division 1, which consists of 14 different teams that compete to win the National Cup.
Howell went to four different professional basketball camps in the summer searching for a team he could sign a contract with. Howell said, “I didn’t care where, I just knew I wanted to keep playing. I heard from teams in Finland, Spain, Slovakia and Kosovo, but none of those teams sent me a contract.”
On Aug. 14, Howell got a call from the Leicester Warriors saying they wanted to sign him immediately. They sent the contract the next day. Howell had his agent look over the contract and get it approved.
This became just another highlight of what had already been an incredible year for Howell. Earlier in 2019, Howell was invited to participate in the College Slam Dunk Contest. He got in by winning four different matchups against other college players during an entire month of voting.
In the slam dunk contest, he progressed through the first round by tying in fourth place with a 44.7 point score out of 50, but was knocked out in the semi-final round. The experience was incredible for Howell, as he competed alongside 7 other players from around the country in Minneapolis at the Target Center.
Howell was a starting forward during his years at NGU, and during his tenure with the Crusaders, he became one of the most reliable and well-known players on the team. The time Howell put in behind the scenes always showed when he stepped onto the court for games.
When asked about his time at NGU, Howell didn’t mention any statistics or numbers. He said his favorite memories were the ones when he was working with the team. “The grind in the gym and weight room with those guys were some of my favorite memories. I loved seeing each of us get better,” said Howell.
Howell spent four years at NGU playing basketball and accumulated a lot of hype and support from the student body. On senior night, the team defeated King University with a buzzer beater as Howell ended the night with 9 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks.
In the closing game of his senior year, the team ended the season playing Mount Olive University. Howell delivered solid performance in his final game, coming up with 9 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks and an assist.
