RCHS basketball coach talks about Zach Howard's time at Rhea County as parents and relatives attend his signing.(Photo:GaryBolden/RCM)

Rhea County Point Guard Howard Will Play Basketball and Major in Business Marketing

Evensville, TN -- 5/4/23

Zach Howard recently signed to attend Tennessee Wesleyan University on an athletic scholarship. He will be majoring in Business Marketing. Zach is the son of Jonathan and LaShawn Howard, Zach has an older brother, Bryce Howard, and sister-in-law, Anna Howard. Zach played his senior year at Rhea County High School after attending Sale Creek High School previously.

Coach Crowder had this to say about Zach at signing day on May 4th at Rhea County High School. "Zach led us in 3's, steals and assists, though missing the last 4 games with injury. He helped our team win 17 games this year. I love him like a son. I give him a lot of credit helping get this program back on track. I really hate that he is gone and I can't wait to see him play at Tennessee Wesleyan."

At signing day, Zach said, "I want to thank God for the opportunity I had to come up here and play. It really means a lot you brought me into your program like you did."

Coach Roy Pankey an AAU coach, teacher and mentor, who has a long tenure in the area and has coached many players, who have gone to college to play basketball said, "I began working with Zack around the 4th grade. He was a little fireball, with a lot on enthusiasm and intensity. He wasn't really happy at first with the workouts intensity, but stayed the course. His best basketball is in front of him. He handles the ball well, distributes the ball and shoots the ball well. My biggest problem with him is that he is too unselfish. He takes his position seriously."

I had a chance to ask Zach a few questions before the signing.

What sports have you participated in over the years?

"Over the course of time, the sports I’ve participated in since my youth are: basketball, baseball, soccer, football, track, and cross country. As I grew up, I realized I truly only loved basketball, so that was the sport I decided to choose to play and dedicate my time to it."

What are your strongest skills in basketball and what aspects of your game do you need to improve on at the next level?

"Being a point guard, I can handle the ball pretty well and facilitate the ball very well, knowing how to get my teammates open. Overall, if there is something my game lacks, it would be my shot. I have worked on it, and it has progressively gotten better, but you can never truly work at something too much to be the absolute best you can. Developing my game has opened many doors throughout my life which is: meeting different people, getting stronger, getting faster, even led me to another school to start and finish my senior year. But as of lately, the opportunity arose for me to play college basketball."

"I will be attending Tennessee Wesleyan University on an athletic scholarship. While attending Wesleyan, I am going to major in business marketing."

Summarize some of the influences over your game as you have matured through the years.

"Leading up to this moment in life, I have had several coaches over the course of these 14 years I have played basketball. Starting with Coach Helton. While attending Sale Creek High School, Coach Helton taught me many things. Things that meant much more than just a simple game, but life lessons. He meant more to me than just a coach, but more like a mentor. I will always remember him that way too. Another coach I have had, I actually spent my last year of high school with, and that is Coach Crowder. Coach Crowder saw something in me and gave me an opportunity to come be his starting point guard this past season at Rhea County High School. I greatly appreciate the time I have been able to spend with Coach, all the laughs, all the butt chewings, all the ups and downs. But he loved each and every one of his players regardless, including me. One more coach I want to talk about is my dad. My dad has coached me from YMCA little league ball, through elementary, and is still even coaching in AAU. He has been there through all of it coaching me every single year, with every single chance he got to do so. My dad invests so much time in me in just basketball alone. There are many memories I have had over the years with him, memories that last a lifetime. And the last coach I want to talk about is Coach Roy Pankey. Coach Roy has also invested many hours into training me and doing his absolute best to develop me into the player I am today. He also is an outstanding mentor to have as a young kid that has grown into an 18 year old graduate, and he still has many things to teach me."

"I don’t mean just basketball things to teach me, but life lessons and strategies to get through certain situations. He is a life coach as well as a basketball coach. I love every single one of these coaches I have mentioned and will continue to do so for the rest of my life."

Do you have a favorite basketball memory over the years?

"Overall, if there is one moment I could pick out to be my favorite moment during my career, it would definitely be the game tying 3 pointer I made against Cleveland at the buzzer to go to overtime. The crowd went wild and the adrenaline rush I felt was astonishing."

Is there a college or NBA player that you modeled your game after or whose style your style emulates?

"If there was a player that my game resembles, it would be John Stockton. And this never really came to mind until Coach Crowder gave me the nickname “Stockton” saying my playing style resembles his."

What are some of the things in life that have molded your life over your 18 years?

"One thing that stands greatly above all my accomplishments, all my memories, and all my love for the game is God. I know that without God, I’d never have seen this opportunity. I would have to say, God blessed me from birth with athletic ability, he has opened and closed many doors throughout my life, but they all led to this moment. I thank God for this opportunity and I couldn’t be more blessed than I am to have the family, the relationships, and the opportunities that I have. The biggest challenge of this generation is honestly technology. Kids would rather sit at home and play video games, but the truth that may hurt is that playing NBA 2K or Madden all day won’t get you an opportunity to play sports at the next level. I took my time that I had for granted and still made it to the next level. There’s really no telling how good I could’ve been in high school or how far I could go in life with just the simple game of basketball."

Do you have any advice for young kids, just beginning their sports journey?

"My advice to all the kids out there is to not take anything for granted, and if you want something badly enough, it won’t choose you, you have to be willing to go and get it!"