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Howell keeping the mailman busy

Lucky enough for Richard Howell his father works for the United States Postal Service. Any inside information on how to handle the influx of mail to his house is a good thing. The 6-foot-7 forward from Central Gwinnett (Ga.) High School is keeping his father and co-workers busy each and every day.
The mail is constantly finding a way to Howell's home in Lawrenceville and the five-star sophomore is doing everything he can to earn the postage this season.
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Howell scored 24 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, handed out six assists, blocked three shots and swiped a pair of steals in a big win over county rival South Gwinnett on Friday. Those kinds of nights are par for the course for the No. 25 ranked sophomore in the country.
"Every game I've played, I've been one or two things away from it," Howell said of a near triple game. "Every game I try to do get a triple double. I didn't crash the boards last year like I am this year.
"I'm doing pretty good, doing better than last year. My confidence level is better. I've got more experience now."
These days, Howell is starting to see the faces behind the signatures that close out the countless letters that find a way to his home. Tom Izzo has been out to see him this year. So have assistant coaches from Georgia, Georgia Tech, Texas, Florida, Florida State, Auburn and Tennessee.
Howell said he is also hearing from Duke, North Carolina, Seton Hall, Indiana, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Stanford, Texas Tech and Texas A&M. There are a couple of favorites early on.
"Duke and North Carolina," Howell said. "Duke is getting a little stronger. My father talked to them when they came down to Georgia Tech. And North Carolina is coming on here and there.
"I don't really pay attention that much," Howell said.
But, the simple spoken sophomore said he did perk up when Izzo walked into the gym to see him this year.
"It felt real good when I saw him. I got nervous when he walked in. I didn't want to mess up," Howell said. "They are taking the time from what they are doing to come out and see me all the way out here. That means something. It's a lot of motivation."
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