Howard: Education First

Southwest Atlanta (GA) Christian School's Dwight Howard might be the best player in the 2004 class. He is big, strong, and skilled. And many NBA teams would love to see Howard jump from the high school level to the NBA in the June 2004 draft. "It was a dream of mine when I was younger to make the big jump," Howard told us. "But I want to get my education first. So I don't think I will be doing that."

Howard, 6-foot-10, 225-pounds, had a solid senior season. "I averaged 17.5 rebounds and 21 points a game," Howard said. "I shot about 72 percent from the floor and 50 percent from the three point line (38 attempts)."

This is where Howard has vastly improved his game -- along the perimeter. He is a very versatile player who can step out and hit the jumper.

Howard has an early and extensive list of favorites, which reads like a who's who is collegiate basketball today with Duke, Georgia Tech, Florida, UNC, FSU, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, NC State, Wake Forest, Vanderbilt, Louisville, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia and Tennessee being listed as schools in contention for his signature. "I really like Duke, North Carolina, North Carolina State, and Wake Forest," Howard said. "It's early. I don't have a leader. But I like the schools in North Carolina a lot."

Howard plays summer basketball with one of the top AAU programs in the nation with Wallace Prather's Atlanta Celtics who have a good reputation for having some of the South's top players on their team year-in and year-out.

Howard carries a 3.0 GPA and indicated that he will make his decision known after his summer travels and before the start of his senior season. "I still want to take some visits," Howard said. "But until the NCAA tournament is over I don't think I will be taking any right now."